to suppress the heresy of Pelagius. Two letters of Patrick exist and tell of his
difficult position as a foreigner in Ireland, being accused of financial
improprieties, tried and put in prison. He is said to have been buried in Down
Cathedral (Downpatrick) alongside St Brigid. There is a modern visitor’s
centre.
Legends have it that he banished all snakes from Ireland (his staff morphed
into a snake like Moses’), that he used the shamrock as a symbol for the
Trinity, although it is also a Celtic symbol for rebirth and picture of the triple
goddesses. St Patrick’s Bell, the reliquary now in Dublin Museum as an
example of Celtic Art, was part of his relics. He was never formally
canonised.
19 March St Joseph (Died first century)
Nothing is known about him apart from biblical accounts, which are not
meant to be biographical, but of interest in connection with Jesus. Mary’s
pregnancy was obviously a threat to his good name, but he took her for his
wife. Jesus was taken to the temple ‘by his parents’ for circumcision and
when he was 12. After this Joseph is not mentioned. The Jewish historian
Pinkas Lapide thought that Joseph most likely was part of a rebellion in
Palestine and executed (the punishment for rebellion was crucifixion).
References to ‘Jesus’ brothers’ seemed to conflict with the teaching of
Mary’s perpetual virginity and taken that Joseph had been a widower, he has
been portrayed as an old man and with a lily, showing chastity. Devotion to
Joseph was spread by the missionary religious orders, with interest in the
Holy Family and emphasis on the humanity of Christ. Joseph was, after
Mary, seen as the supreme intercessor, Theresa of Avila said that he helped
‘in every need’. The Church instituted the liturgical feast day in the 15 th
century, and a feast of ‘St Joseph the Worker’ for May 1 in 1956.
St Cuthbert (about 634-687)
The most revered Saint of Northern England was born into a wealthy Anglo-
Saxon Family. He began his monastic life by riding up to Melrose armed with
a spear. He was a knight and had fought in wars. He chose Melrose
because he admired the prior there. The abbot of Melrose persuaded him to
help establish a new house at Ripon, later returning to Melrose as Prior. In
664 at the Synod of Whitby, he voted for the Roman tradition and was sent
to Lindisfarne. Aged 40 he became a hermit, but later a travelling bishop. He
died at his hermitage, but the body was taken to Lindisfarne and later to
Durham. The Lindisfarne Gospel was made for the ceremony of ‘the
elevation of the body’ of Cuthbert, which was found un-decayed, a sign of
sainthood. His Shrine at Durham was a major medieval Pilgrimage
destination. The head of St Oswald was later placed into that same shrine.
.After the Reformation the body was buried in a plain grave by the High
Altar.
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