16St. Aristobulus of Britain
St. Boniface Curitan of Ross
St. Patrick of Auvergne
St. Abban of Kill-Abban
St. Abban of Magheranoidhe
St. Finnian Lobhar
Celtic and Old English Saints – March 2024 (celticsaints.org)
St. Aristobulus:
Stands out as one of the 70 disciples chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel, as referenced by Saint Paul in Romans 16:11. He may also be Zebedee, the father of James and John. As a Missionary Bishop, anointed by Saint Paul for Britain, he embraced martyrdom at 99 in Wales. His significant contributions and ultimate sacrifice are recognised in various texts, like the Greek Menology, (a liturgical text detailing the lives of saints) and by figures such as St. Dorotheus of Tyre and St. Ado of Vienne. The early British Church traditions also celebrate his connections with other key figures, like Joseph of Arimathea.
Celtic and Old English Saints – 16 March (celticsaints.org)
St. Boniface,
also known as Curitan, was a pivotal figure in the history of the Scottish church. As the bishop of Ross around 630 AD, he played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the Celtic church and Western Catholicism. His efforts were instrumental in aligning ecclesiastical practices with those of Rome.
Curitan’s zeal for the Roman traditions was evident when Abbot Coelfrid sent him to assist King Nectan of the Picts. His mission was to aid in constructing a church dedicated to St. Peter and to elucidate the Roman method for calculating Easter’s date—a significant divergence from local practices.
(The Celtic system for determining Easter was based on local customs and observations, which varied from the Roman method based on a more uniform and widely accepted calendar. The Celtic method relied on a lunar calendar that did not always coincide with the Roman solar calendar, leading to differences in the date of Easter celebrations.)
Basically, Easter is the first Sunday after the paschal moon, which is the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. But the “ecclesiastical” full moon is an idealised event defined mathematically, and may be slightly earlier or later than the astronomical event. Moreover, the ecclesiastical equinox is fixed on March 21st, which does not always accord with the sun crossing the equator.
Ireland’s important role in calculating when Easter falls – The Irish Times
The legacy of Curitan’s mission is enduring, with several churches dedicated to St. Peter standing as testaments to his influence. Moreover, local folklore immortalises his endeavours, recounting tales of the devil himself casting stones at Curitan’s missionaries in opposition.
However, historical records like the Aberdeen breviary sometimes muddle Curitan’s story, confusing him with an Israelite who had been Pope. This has led to exaggerated claims about his achievements, such as consecrating numerous bishops and erecting many churches.
Go to Celtic and Old English Saints – 16 March (celticsaints.org) for the next saint and follow the links.