SAINT BOLCANUS, BISHOP IN IRELAND

SAINT BOLCANUS, BISHOP IN IRELAND - 20 FEBRUARY

SAINT BOLCANUS, BISHOP IN IRELAND

Saint Olcanus (Bolcanus) is commemorated on February 20.

Saint Olcanus, Bishop (February 20) Like all older legends of Ireland, that of Bishop St Olcan is adorned with the most incredible miracles. The series of them opens his at his birth in the following manner: His mother, who had died of fever, had already been in the grave for seven days when St Patritius [St Patrick] who is said to have been her natural brother, revived her, whereupon she gave birth to this holy son. The baby was immediately baptised by St Patritius, who gave him the name Olcanus, i.e. "the miserable."

The boy received a good education. When he grew up, he went to Gaul to further his education and after a long time returned to his fatherland (repatreavit). He now opened his own schools, from which emerged several holy bishops. He then built a church at a place called "the Choir", of which he presided as bishop.

But once he baptised a certain Saranus, who as a personal enemy of St Patritius had been threatened by the latter with the eternal curse. Olcanus feared that he would be killed by him if he refused Saranus' request for baptism. By this deed Olcanus aroused the indignation of the Irish apostle to such an extent that he no longer wanted to listen to him. Olcanus fell at St Patritius' feet, and humbly begged his pardon - in vain, it seemed at first. St Patritius ordered his chariot driver to run the supplicant over if he did not go away. When he refused, Olcanus escaped with a sharp reprimand by St Patritius for having exceeded his jurisdiction. Apart from these details, the legend concludes that Olcanus continued his life in great holiness. His holy death is thought to have occurred around A D. 500. Even after his death he continued to work many miracles.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1858)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Bolcanus may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

➡️ Irish Confessors and Martyrs

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

JACQUES HAMEL, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 26 JULY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 26th of July WELCOME! SERVANT OF GOD JACQUES HAMEL, PRIEST AND MARTYR "Jacques Hamel (30 November 1930 - 26 July 2016) was a French Catholic priest who served in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. On July 26, 2016, Hamel was murdered during the 2016 Normandy church attack by two Muslim men pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant while he celebrated Mass in his church." (From Wikipedia) Father Hamel, 85, still officiated regularly as auxiliary at the church in St Étienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, Normandy, France, and in neighbouring Elbeuf, local media reported, stepping in when the parish’s regular priest, Father Auguste Moanda-Phuati, was busy. Father Hamel was killed by two men armed with knives during Weekday Mass. They who took five people, Fr Hamel, two nuns and two other worshippers, hostage in the church. The two men were later shot by police. Three hostages were freed unharmed but one was in a cri...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog