The Live of the Saints By Bud Hannings 1 Saint Aelred (Also Ailred or Ethelred)–(Feast Day March 3, formerly 12 January) Aelred was born in Hexham, a town in Northumberland in the northern sector of England. At that time in history (11th and 12th centuries) some of the priests in England were married men and Aelred’s father was one of them. He later became a monk, but prior to entering the life of a religious, he was well educated. In addition, he worked in the court of King David of Scotland, the latter being the son of Saint Margaret of Scotland and King Malcolm III. Malcolm had married Margaret, Margaret, the grand niece of King Edward the Confessor and the brother of Edgar Etheling, subsequent to the death of his first wife, Ingiborg who died during 1069. David became king during 1124, succeeding his brother, Alexander I. Aelred had been a friend of the family since he had been a young boy. While serving the king he remained also a friend of the family and it gave him an opportunity to also become fond of David’s son Henry. It was during the reign of David that the feudal system began in Scotland. King David was especially good to the Church and donated many gifts to the religious including monasteries. Cisterian Houses were founded and during the same period the Augustinians established themselves at Holyrod Abbey and at Jedburg. Aelred, when he left the secular world, joined the Cistercians at Rievaulx in Yorkshire during 1133. Subsequently, he became the abbot at Revesby in Lincolnshire, but later he became abbot at Rievaulx, succeeding Abbot Maurice. Aelred was selected as the representative to Rome during 1142 and afterward, he maneuvered himself out of being made a bishop by leaving the monastery and joining the one at Revesby in Lincolnshire, but there too, he was conspicuous due to his virtuous life and he was made abbot there during 1143. With his leadership, the monastery expanded to become the largest in all of England and it also extended into Scotland. Aelred continued to influence others by his sincere virtuous life and by his empathy for others, which aided him greatly in dealing with his monks, but his influence stretched even to monarchs. During the 1160s when there was a schism in the Church, Aelred was able to counsel King Henry II to gain support for Pope Alexander III (Who was in France) against the anti-pope, Victor IV, the latter being rejected by France and England and afterward by Hungary, Ireland, Norway and Spain, all of which supported Alexander III, the true pope. Aelred as abbott maintained responsibility for the monastery, but he also journeyed to other monasteries in both England and Scotland and in addition, he made trips to to France to the Cistercian institutes at Cîteaux and Clairvaux. All the while, his health continued to deteriorate. During 1163, Aelred journeyed to London and was there when the remains of King Edward the Confessor’s body was discovered to be incorrupt fifty years after his death. Saint Edward’s body was initially found to be free of decay in the presence of Thomas of Canterbury (Later a saint) and by King Henry II, on 13 October of that year. During the following year, 1164, he traveled to Galloway, Scotland on a missionary journey to the highlands where the Pictish tribes (Novanti) inhabited the region and remained there for about one year. Later during 1167, his health further failed and he succumbed. After becoming a monk, his health was never excellent and as time progressed, he continued to struggle without letting his poor health deter him from his missions. He died in the monastery at Rievaulx on 12 January, thought to be in the year 1167; however, there is some thought that it might have occurred during 1167 Aelred was compared to Bernard of 2 Clairvaux, another Cistercian and he is sometimes referred to as the Bernard of the north. Bernard lived during the same time period and it was he that with the authority of Pope Eugenius III, that he preached for the Second Crusade, subsequent to the takeover of Edessa by the Turks. Aelred, at the direction of his superiors is known to have authored several works, including Spiritual Friendship and the Mirror of Charity. Other works included a piece on King Edward the Confessor and another on Saint Ninian, Saint Edward the Confessor and another, regarding the saints of Hexham, an abbey where six of eleven bishops that succeeded Saint Eata became saints. Saint Ailred–See Saint Aelred. Saint Agatha (Feast Day 5 February)–Agatha was born in Sicily, during the latter part of the first century but the exact date of her birth is unknown. Agatha’s life story is picked up towards the latter part of her young life. Although, there is evidence to support her death as a martyr, the exact way that she died is greatly based on tradition. The details are drawn from the Acts of her martyrdom (Two versions, Latin and Greek). During 249 A.D., Roman Emperor Philippus “Arabs” was slain while in battle against other Roman forces under Decius, the Roman commander in Dacia, which was near Verona. He was then succeeded by the victor, C. Messius Quintas Traianus Decius, who initiated the period known as the seventh general persecution. His wrath struck particularly against Christians, but it didn’t end there. Anyone who refused to glorify him as a deity was persecuted. Tradition states that Agatha was born of a noble family in Sicily and that she grew to become a particularly beautiful girl and when the governor of Sicily, Quintanus had been informed of Agatha, being both good looking and from a family of wealth, he decided to covet her for himself. However, although Agatha, both a virgin and a devout Christian, had no way of evading Quintanus’ advances, she adamantly opposed any thoughts of losing her chastity, nor her consecration to Christ. The governor demanded that Agatha travel to Catania, that he could see her with his own eyes. She arrived there from Palermo with the initial belief that her presence had been due to the emperor’s laws regarding Christians. Nevertheless, once there, Agatha learned of the governor’s real motive and she immediately resisted all advances. As it was handed down, the birth of Agatha had been foretold to her parents and soon after birth, she was consecrated to God. While en route to Catania, she prayed for God’s help in protecting her and proclaimed that she belonged to God with these words: “O Jesus Christ, all that I am is Thine, preserve me against this tyrant.” Subsequent to being repeatedly rejected, while keeping Agatha confined for about one month, including under the watch of a woman who operated a house of ill-repute, the governor resorted to crude torture. Still Agatha resisted, but the torment only increased as Quintanus’ efforts to break her strong faith continued to fail and in fact only strengthened her beliefs. The barbarism then displayed by him was fueled by rage. Quintanus ordered that Agatha’ breasts be severed and they were. Amazingly, Agatha still held steadfastly and as it was told, she prayed more deeply, despite the agonizing pain, and she received an answer when Saint Peter appeared to her in a vision and instantly and miraculously healed her. Quintanus , however, did not relent. Agatha, by that time naked, was then thrown upon potsherds (Broken or jagged pieces of earthenware) that inflicted yet more excruciating pain and it was at that time that Agatha again 3 called to God with a request to end her pain and anguish. The call was heard and Agatha’s anguish ended with her faith and virginity intact. The legend of Agatha, the virgin bride of God, does seem to be somewhat embellished, but well after Agatha’s death, the legend continued and she was greatly venerated. Subsequently, during the tenth century when the Byzantines were driven from Sicily by the Arabs (Fatimid Dynasty), the body of Agatha was removed and taken to Constantinople, but later, during the following century, she was again removed and taken back to Sicily. It was at that time that it was discovered that her body exhibited no signs of decay. Afterward, parts of her body were severed as relics, some of which were later found in different places in the region. During the latter part of the fifth century, a letter written by Pope Gelasius (492-496) to Bishop Victor, Gelasius mentioned a basilica of St. Agatha that was located on an estate at a place known as fundo Caclano. Pope Symmacus (498-514) placed Saint Agatha feast day into the liturgy at Rome and it was he who dedicated a church there in her honor. Later, Pope Gregory I (The Great 590-604), who succeeded Pelagius II, inserted the name of Saint Agatha into the Roman Canon during the sacrifice of the Mass. It was also Pope Gregory who designed the style of the papacy which prevailed during the Middle ages. Another church in her honor was located in Rome in a section known as the Subura, a section of Rome that was located below the Palatine. Much later, during 1579, Pope Gregory XIII placed responsibility for St. Agatha’s in Subura under a group of monks. Pope Gregory XVII (731-741) gave the structure to Irish students. In Catania, Sicily, during the latter part of the eleventh century, the Normans led by Roger I, took possession of Catania and prior to the end of the century, construction was begun on the cathedral, which was built in the shape of a cross, with its three aisles.