BLAITHMAIC (BLATHMAC, BLAITHMALE), the son of an Irish king, who at an early age renounced this world and entered the monastic life, St. Blaithmaic ultimately became abbot of his monastery. He later led a group of monks to reclaim Iona, where he was martyred, circa 823, by Vikings on the altar steps of the church for refusing to identify the tomb of St. Columba of Iona (9th June) which they sought to plunder. His Life was written in verse by Strabo, the Abbot of Reichenau in Lake Constance in southern present-day Germany.

BONITUS (BONT), after having served as Chancellor to King Sigebert III of Austrasia (r. 633–656), and Governor of Marseilles, St. Bonitus was elected twenty-seventh Bishop of Clermont in 689. Owing to questions as to the validity of his election St. Bonitus resigned and retired to the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Manglieu, Puy-de-Dôme, living out the rest of his life as a monk. St. Bonitus reposed circa 710, and his relics are enshrined in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Clermont-Ferrand (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Clermont-Ferrand) in present-day Clermont-Ferrand, France.

CEOLWULF, a King of Northumbria and great supporter of monasticism, he abdicated his throne in 737 to enter Lindisfarne. St. Bede the Venerable (25th May) dedicated his Ecclesiastical History to him. St. Ceolwulf reposed in 764.

EMEBERT (ABLEBERT), a son of St. Amalberga (10th July) and brother of SS. Reineldis (16th July) and Gudula (8th January). St. Emebert served as an early eighth century Bishop of Cambrai (present-day France), reposing circa 710.

EPHYSIUS, nothing certain is known of the life of St. Ephysius, legend states he was martyred in Sardinia (circa 303) during the Diocletianic Persecution. His cultus is centred at Cagliari in Sardinia, and his relics are enshrined in Pisa.

EUGYPPIUS, a priest who worked with St. Severinus (8th January) in Noricum (roughly present-day western Austria, parts of Bavaria and Slovenia). St. Eugyppius also authored a Life of St. Severinus. He reposed circa 511.

Icon of St. Íte (Ita) of
Cluain Credail (Killeedy)

ÍTE (ITA, YTHA, MEDA) of CLUAIN CREDAIL (KILLEEDY), second only to St. Bridget (1st February) in veneration amongst the Irish, St. Íte is known as “the Foster mother of Irish Saints”. The daughter of Irish nobility, whose parents were devout Christians, St. Íte resolved, while still quite young, to enter monastic life. She founded a school and monastery at Killeedy (Cill Íde) in present-day Co. Waterford, which became known as a training ground for young boys, many of whom became famous churchmen, including St. Brendan the Voyager (16th May), who was entrusted to her care at the age of one, remaining with her for five years. She spent her life in repentance and practicing asceticism and became a renowned elderess, widely sought for her spiritual counsel. She seems to have practiced medicine to some extent as well. St. Íte reposed circa 570 and is the patron saint of Killeedy. There is a holy well on the spot of her monastery, which is a site of pilgrimage.

LLENDADD (LAUDATUS), St. Llendadd was a Welsh saint about whom there is little reliable information. He was Abbot of Bardsey (Carnarvon) at some point, and is said to have accompanied St. Cadfan (1st November) to Brittany. There are some who are of the opinion that he is the same saint as St. Lauto of Coutances (22nd September), though in the absence of a reliable Life or other details, it is impossible to say with any certainty.

MALARD, a mid-seventh century Bishop of Chartres who is listed amongst the attendees at the Council of Châlon-sur-Saône in 650 and reposed sometime thereafter.

MAURA and BRITTA, two fourth century martyrs of whom no information is extant. St. Gregory of Tours (17th November), stated that their relics were discovered by his predecessor in the See of Tours, St. Eufronius (4th August).

MAURUS and PLACID, were amongst the first of St. Benedict's (11th July) monks at Subiaco, and later followed him to what became the Abbey of Monte Cassino. There are several reports of St. Maurus as a wonderworker as well. The particulars of the lives of both Saints were written by St. Gregory the Dialogist. (3rd September) in his Dialogues. St. Maurus reposed in 584, and St. Placid in 541.

MAXIMUS of NOLA, a Bishop of Nola who ordained St. Felix (14th January). During the Decian Persecution St. Maximus fled to the mountains, nearly dying of exposure. St. Felix came to care for him and kept St. Maximus alive until the end of the persecution. Unfortunately, St. Maximus reposed shortly thereafter (circa 250) weakened by the suffering he had experienced for the Faith.

SAWL, a Welsh chieftain, St. Sawl was father of St. Asaph of Wales (1st May). There is no other information on this saint extant.

SECUNDINA, a maiden in Rome who was flogged to death (circa 250) for the faith during the Decian Persecution. Her witness of the Faith converted her guards before her repose.

TARSICIA (TARSITIA), a granddaughter of King Clotaire II of Neustria (r. 613–629), and sister of St. Ferreolus of Uzès (4th January). St. Tarsicia lived as an anchoress near Rodez in Occitanie and reposed circa 600.

ANTIMUS, an eighth century Abbot of The Abbey of St. Peter of Brantôme (L'abbaye Saint-Pierre de Brantôme) in south-western Gaul.

BRIGID and MAURA, (Date Unknown), two daughters of a Scottish chieftain who, whilst on a pilgrimage to Rome, were martyred in Picardy. However, there is some question as to the veracity of their legend.

CANNERA (CAINDER, KINNERA), St. Cannera was an Irish holy virgin who, from an early age, lived as an anchoress near Bantry Co. Cork. After receiving a vision of St. Senan’s (8th March) sanctity, she sought him out, and, having received Holy Communion at his hands, reposed circa 530. She was buried at St. Senan’s monastery on Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh).

FLAVIAN, a Roman Prefect (or possibly Deputy-Prefect) who converted to Christianity and was martyred at Civitavecchia (approximately 50 km / 30 mi north-west of Rome) during the Diocletianic Persecution circa 300–304.

GLASTIAN, St. Glastian was a Scottish bishop who acted as a mediator between the Picts and the Scots during their last civil war. Serving as the comforter, spiritual father, and charitable protector of many thousands of both nations, he did much to alleviate the suffering of the Picts under the subjugation of the Scots. He reposed 830 and is the patron saint of Kinglassie (Cille MoGhlasaidh) in his native Fife, and is venerated in Kyntire as well.

JOHN of REOMAY (JEAN de RÉOMÉ), the Roman Martyrology called St. John "A Man of God", and from an early age, St. John lived as a hermit in present-day Moutiers-Saint-Jean near the Réôme River (approximately 65 km / 40 mi north-west of Dijon). In time many disciples gathered round him, disturbing his solitude. Seeking to continue his life of seclusion, St. John went to the Abbey of Our Lady of Lérins, however, he was ordered to return to his hermitage, and serve as abbot of the community that had gathered. That community came to be known as the Abbey of St. John of Réome (abbaye Saint-Jean de Réome). St. John reposed in 539.

ODO of BEAUVAIS, though St. Odo initially planned on a career in the military, for reasons no longer known, he received monastic tonsure at the Royal Abbey of St. Peter of Corbie (L'abbaye royale Saint-Pierre de Corbie) in Picardy. St. Odo was made Abbot of Corbie in 851, and then consecrated Bishop of Beauvais in 861. St. Odo reposed in 880.

VALERIUS (VALERO), Bishop of Saragossa (Zaragoza) in present-day Spain from 290 to 315. His tenure as Bishop was interrupted when he was arrested and exiled during the Diocletianic Persecution, until the Edict of Toleration (311) permitted his return. St. Valerius reposed in peace in Saragossa in 315.