We cannot reckon St. Andrew among the national saints of Scotland, for he lived and died far from these northern lands. Scotland cannot even claim connection with him on the ground of having received missionaries from him, as England can boast of her connection with St. Gregory the Great. Yet from time immemorial so far back that history cannot point to any precise date St. Andrew has been venerated as the special protector of Scotland, and his feast, known as "Andrewmas," celebrated everywhere with great rejoicing. The legend of St. Regulus (see October 17) which attributes to that saint the bringing of {174} the apostle's relics to the country is rejected by modern historians. The origin of devotion to St. Andrew in Scotland is nevertheless due to the translation of the apostle's relics thither (probably from Hexham) during the eighth century. These relics were undoubtedly honoured with much devotion at the place which was afterwards known by the name of the great Apostle, and eventually became the Primatial See of that country. Whatever be the true facts of the case, St. Andrew has been invoked for more than one thousand years as the Patron of Scotland, whose battle-cry in the ages of faith was "For God and St. Andrew." DECEMBER 2--St. Ethernan, Bishop. This saint belonged to a noble Scottish family and was sent to Ireland for his education. On returning to his native land, he devoted himself to the work of preaching the Faith among his countrymen in the province of Buchan, Aberdeenshire. He eventually became a bishop. {175} On the east side of the hill of Mormond near Rathen, in Aberdeenshire, is a place called "St. Ethernan's Den"; it is believed to have been the spot chosen by the saint as his hermitage. The neighbouring church of Rathen is dedicated to him. The church of Kilrenny in Fifeshire, popularly known as "St. Irnie's," is probably one of his dedications; it is a favourite landmark for mariners. St. Ethernan's well is there. At Forfar a fair was annually held on this day under the name of "Tuetheren's Fair." He was also honoured at Madderty in Perthshire. There seems to have been a chapel of this saint in the old monastic church on the Isle of May; as, by an ancient charter, Alexander Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, grants a stone of wax or forty shillings yearly to "St. Ethernan of the Isle of May, and the monks serving God and St. Ethernan in that place." 6--St. Constantine III., King, A.D. (about) 945.