Saints -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history -- Biography
Devotion to St. Barr was very great in Catholic Scotland, as numerous
dedications attest. His churches are chiefly to be found on solitary
islands, which seem to have had a special attraction for him. Thus in
the parish of Kilkerran, Kintyre, is an island now known as Davar; it
was formerly called St. Barre's Island. The island of Barra takes its
name from him; traces of his _cultus_ lingered on there long after
the Reformation. At Kilbar (sometimes called Shilbar), for example,
an image of the saint, which was long preserved, used to be clothed
with a linen robe on his feast-day in comparatively recent times.
Other curious customs also prevailed in the island in connection with
him; his holy well is there. St. Barr was the patron saint of the
churches of {141} Dornoch, and of Eddleston (Peebles-shire); at both
places a fair was annually held on his feast-day. In Ayrshire is the
parish of Barr, and in Forfarshire that of Inch bare. At Midd Genie,
in Tarbat, is Chapel Barre.
28--St. Machan or Mahon, Bishop, about 6th century.
St. Machan, born in Scotland, was like many of his contemporaries,
sent to Ireland, then renowned for its schools, to be educated. After
he had returned to his native land and had become a priest, he
laboured in various provinces of Scotland.
At Rome, whither he had gone as a pilgrim, he was consecrated bishop
in spite of protestations from his humility; later he returned to
Scotland and to the apostolic ministry. After many years of fruitful
labour he died and was laid to rest at Campsie in Lennox. His name
still survives in Ecclesmachan (Church of Machan) in Linlithgow, of
which he is patron. The parish of Dalserf, Lanarkshire, formed at one
time the chapelry of St. Machan, and was known as Machanshire. It was
connected {142} with the church of Cadzow (now Hamilton). An altar in
St. Mungo's Cathedral, Glasgow, was dedicated to him. A fair in
honour of this saint was held annually at Kilmahog, Perthshire.
OCTOBER
8--St. Triduana, Virgin, 7th or 8th century.
St. Triduana devoted herself to God in a solitary life at Rescobie in
Angus (now Forfarshire). While dwelling there, a prince of the
country having conceived an unlawful passion for her is said to have
pursued her with his unwelcome attentions. To rid herself of his
importunities, as a legend relates, Triduana bravely plucked out her
beautiful eyes, her chief attraction, and sent them to her admirer.
Her heroism, it is said, procured for her the power of curing
diseases of the eyes. Many instances are related of such miracles
worked after her death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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