The Church in Wales is celebrating the feast of St. Beuno, one of its greatest saints. He was a wonder-worker and aristocrat, monk and master of monks, patriot, challenger of tyrants — that was the medieval picture of the man which is reflected in his life, and which survives, carved in stone on the fourteenth-century pulpit of the Black Monks of Shrewsbury.

According to the Roman Martyrology, today is the feast of St. Marcellinus who was born in Africa, of a noble family; accompanied by Vincent and Domninus, he went over into Gaul, and there preached the Gospel, with great success, in the neighborhood of the Alps. It is also the feast of St. Agnes of Montepulciano was a Dominican prioress in medieval Tuscany, she was known as a miracle worker during her lifetime.

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St. Beuno
Died c.630; he has another feast on January 14. There is evidence that Beuno was a Welsh man of importance, founder of several monasteries. His story that has been handed down to us is a legend written in 1346, but it may contain elements of truth. According to the legend, Beuno was the son of Beugi (Hywgi) and grandson of a Welsh prince. He was educated in Herefordshire, perhaps at Bangor Abbey, near which there is still a village called Llanfeuno. Beuno was the uncle of Saint Winifred, who was restored to life after her suitor severed her head.

The legend says that Cadvan was king of North Wales, and had recently been victorious over King Ethelred of Northumberland, who, about 607, had massacred the monks of Bangor. Saint Beuno gave the king a golden sceptre, and the prince in turn assigned a spot for Beuno’s monastery near Fynnon Beuno (Beuno’s Well), in the parish of Llanwunda, of which he is titular saint. But as he was laying the foundation, a woman came to him with a child in her arms, saying that the ground was this infant’s inheritance. Troubled by this, the holy man took the woman with him to the king and told him that he could not devote to God another’s patrimony. The king refused to pay any attention to his remonstrances. So the saint left. But Gwyddeiant, the king’s cousin, immediately went after him, and bestowed on him the township of Clynnog Fawr, his undoubted patrimony, where Beuno built his church about the year 616. King Cadvan died about that time; but his son and successor Cadwallon surpassed him in his liberality to the saint and his monastery.

It is related, among other miracles, that when a certain man had lost his eyebrow by some hurt, Saint Beuno healed it by applying the iron point of his staff: and that from this circumstance a church four miles from Clynnog, perhaps built by the person so healed, retains to this day the name of Llanael Hayarn, i.e., church of the iron brow.

His name is particularly associated with Clynnog in Caernarvonshire, where he may well have had a small monastery. There are many other foundations (including Aberffraw and Trefdraeth on Anglesey Island), both in central East Wales and in Clwyd, dedicated to him that may have be established by his disciples. Clynnog Fawr later passed into the hands of Benedictines of the congregation of Cluny (Clugni), from which it gets its name; previously it was named after its founder.

Beuno died and was buried at Clynnog Fawr, where a stone oratory was built over his tomb. Later his relics were translated to a new church (Eglwys y Bedd), where miracles were reported. The beautiful stone church is large and magnificent as is Saint Beuno’s chapel, which is joined to the church by a portico. In this chapel, the fine painted or stained glass in the large windows is much effaced and destroyed, except a large figure of our blessed Savior extended on the cross. Opposite this crucifix, about three yards from the east window, is Saint Beuno’s tomb, raised above the ground, and covered with a large stone, upon which people still lay sick children, in hopes of being cured.

Beuno’s cultus survived the Reformation. During the reign of Elizabeth I, there were complaints that lambs and calves were offered at his tomb and later brought back because Beuno’s cattle “prospered marvelous well.” Sick people were still brought to the supposed grave towards the end of the 18th century, where they bathed in his holy well and spent the night in his tomb. The ruins of his primitive oratory were excavated in 1914. In our age, Beuno’s memory has been revived by the Jesuits’ establishment of Saint Beuno’s College in northern Wales (Attwater, Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, Husenbeth). In art, Beuno is shown restoring his niece’s head (Roeder). He is chiefly venerated at Clynnog (Roeder).
—From Katherine Rabenstein. Saints of the Day

Patronage: Diseased cattle; sick animals; sick children

Symbols and Representation: Restoring the head of Saint Winifred

Highlights and Things to Do:

• Read more about St. Beuno:
  • Catholic Encyclopedia
  • Catholic Ireland
  • Legends of Saints and Birds
  • Celtic Saints
  • Orthodox Christianity
  • CatholicSaints.info
• Read about the history of Shrewsbury Abbey.
• His tomb and shrine are located at Clynnog Fawr in Northwest Wales.

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St. Marcellinus
St. Marcellinus was born in Africa, of a noble family; accompanied by two bishops, Vincent and Domninus, he went over into Gaul, and there preached the Gospel, with great success, in the neighborhood of the Alps.

He afterwards settled at Embrun, where he built a chapel in which he passed his nights in prayer, after laboring all the day in the exercise of his sacred calling. By his pious example as well as by his earnest words, he converted many of the heathens among whom he lived.

He was afterwards made bishop of the people whom he had won over to Christ, but the date of his consecration is not positively known. Burning with zeal for the glory of God, he sent Vincent and Domninus to preach the faith in those parts which he could not visit in person.

He died at Embrun about the year 374, and was there interred. St. Gregory of Tours, who speaks of Marcellinus in terms of highest praise, mentions many miracles as happening at his tomb.
—Excerpted from Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

Highlights and Things to Do:

• Read more about St. Marcellinus:
  • CatholicSaints.info
  • Anastpaul
  • The Year of Our Savior
• St. Marcellinus' relics were destroyed during the anti-religious sentiments of the French Revolution.

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St. Agnes of Montepulciano
A Dominican nun, Agnes (1268 – 1317) was renowned for her diligence in prayer and her extraordinary charity. Although born of a wealthy family in Gracchiano, Italy, she believed that charity is the only way to acquire the virtue of humility: there is no humility without charity; the one nourishes the other. She first joined the Sisters of the Sack (so-called because of their rough clothes) in Montepulciano. But when a new foundation was established in Proceno, Agnes was sent there as housekeeper; later she served as bursar and superior. Meanwhile, her austerities and her visions of Christ, Mary, and the angels had become so well known that the citizens of Montepulciano invited her to return. She did so and founded a convent in premises formerly used as brothels. Because she sought perfection according to the way of St. Dominic, she placed the convent under the direction of the Dominicans, and it grew and prospered.

St. Agnes of Montepulciano may be best known for an incident that occurred many years after her death. About seventy years after Agnes died, St. Catherine of Siena made a pilgrimage to the shrine of this revered Dominican foundress. St. Catherine bowed to kiss Agnes’ foot, the saint raised it up toward her. Catherine may not have been totally surprised, as miraculous characteristics had surrounded Agnes’ life.

This “little lamb” was born not far from Montepulciano in 1268. She expressed a desire to give her life to God and practiced pious exercises from an early age. Now and then, her parents gave in to her requests to visit the various convents in town. On one such occasion, Agnes and her mother were passing a house of ill repute, when a flock of crows suddenly descended upon her, pecking and scratching the little girl. Her mother remarked that the crows represented demonic forces threatened by her purity. Indeed, years later, Agnes would be asked to found a convent on that very spot.

In her teens, Agnes joined the Franciscans in Montepulciano and rose to become its prioress. Small white flakes in the form of crosses fell gently from the heavens in celebration. It is said that the sisters have preserved some of these until today. In 1306, God inspired Agnes to found a Dominican convent with three stones given her by the Blessed Mother in honor of the Trinity. The Blessed Mother had visited Agnes many times. On one of these occasions, she allowed Agnes to hold the Christ Child, but Agnes showed great reluctance in giving him back.

Toward the end of her life, Agnes sought healing from some famous springs. Although she did not receive healing herself, her prayers effected the resurrection of a child who had drowned in the springs. In 1317, Agnes died in Montepulciano and received her long-awaited reward.
—Excerpted from Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation

Symbols and Representation: Dominican nun gazing at the Cross with a lily at her feet; Dominican nun holding a model of Montepulciano, Italy; Dominican nun holding the Christ child; Dominican nun with Saint Catherine of Siena; Dominican nun with the Virgin and Child appearing to her; Dominican abbess with a lamb, lily, and book; Dominican with the sick who were healed at her tomb

Patronage: City of Siena, Italy

Highlights and Things to Do:

• Read more about St. Agnes:
  • Breviarium S.O.P.
  • Catholic Encyclopedia
  • Catholic Ireland
  • Catholic Fire
  • CatholicSaints.info
• See some artistic renderings of St. Agnes.
• Her relics are in the Church of St. Agnes in Montepulciano. Her body is said to be incorrupt.
• St. Robert Bellarmine is also from Montepulciano, so there can be overlapping of food and drink ideas for both saints. There is a particular Montepulciano wine that would be perfect for St. Agnes (and St. Robert).

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St. Anicetus
Pope Anicetus, St. Peter's tenth successor (154-165), ruled at a time when many noteworthy events transpired in the Church of God. It was the golden age of Gnosticism, and its chief proponents, Valentine and Marcion, had come to Rome. From the Orient Polycarp arrived to discuss the question regarding the day for celebrating Easter. Among other illustrious men in Rome at the time were Justin Martyr (cf. April 14), who took the occasion to write his second apology and thus precipitated his martyrdom; and the renowned Jewish Christian scholar, Hegesippus. During the pontificate of Pope Anicetus the Church suffered persecution under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. There is extant a decree in which Anicetus forbade his clergy the vain and frivolous grooming of their hair. His grave is near that of St. Peter in the Vatican.

Highlights and Things to Do:

• Read more about Pope St. Anicetus:
  • Catholic Encyclopedia
  • uCatholic
  • Popes in a Year
  • Pope History
  • Anastpaul
  • CatholicSaints.info
• According to tradition, Pope St. Anicetus has been listed as a martyr for centuries during the reign of Emperor Lucius Verus, but there is no historical evidence of his martyrdom.

• Pope St. Anicetus' remains were transferred from Vatican Hill to the cemetery of Callistus. Later his sarcophagus which may once have contained remains is extant in the Palazzo Altemps.
• Listen to Mike Aquinina's Way of the Fathers podcast of St. Polycarp and the Social Network.
• Listen along to Catholic Culture's newest podcast on the Lives of the Popes by Thomas Mirus.