Magnus

ON SAINT MAGNUS,

COUNT OF THE ORKNEY ISLANDS IN SCOTLAND.

IN THE YEAR 1106

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

G. H.

[1] The Orkney Islands, scattered beyond the northern part of Scotland, separate the Deucalidonian Ocean from the German Sea. Their Patron is Saint Magnus the Count, St. Magnus the Count, Patron of the Orkneys against enemies, of whom we here treat. John Lesley, Bishop of Ross, in the Preface to his books on the Deeds of the Scots, treating of the Orkney islands on page 40, asserts that the inhabitants of these islands attribute the most to the blessed Magnus their Patron, next to God; whom also they say often appears to them in their defense against enemies when placed in the greatest peril. Hector Boece in book 4 of the History of the Scots, having widely described the victory which the Scots won over the English in the year 1314, adds these things: It was believed that Angels were sent from heaven, the Scots believed he had announced the victory: and that God's singular help was with the Scots on that day. But on the day on which it was fought, a certain horseman in gleaming arms, passing through Aberdeen, is said to have announced the great victory of the Scots: the same was seen to cross the Bosphorus of the Picts by horse. It was commonly held to be the blessed Magnus, once Prince of the Orkneys. Robert Bruce, moved by the fame of that matter, donated five pounds sterling yearly from the tolls and taxes of the town of Aberdeen to be received each year he gave tribute income to his temple for the Orkney temple, to purchase bread, wine, and wax for the sacred rites. Thus far that source. The said temple of St. Magnus is situated in the middle of the Orkneys, on a small island, hence perhaps called Eglis-eya, that is "Island of the church." on the island of Eglis-eya. It is nearly two thousand paces long and a thousand wide, fruitful but lacking in soil; and what it uses is brought from Rousay, a neighboring island, by boats across a sea most harshly stormy. Here there is a temple, with a tower rising to a point and very high, where St. Magnus, tutelary Saint of the Orkneys, is said by report to be buried: and very beautiful buildings near the temple. Thus one reads in the new description of the Orkneys in the Blaeu Geography of Scotland, page 159. Some things from the aforesaid words are thus read in George Buchanan book 1 of the History of Scotland, folio 13. From the western part of Pomona lies Rousay, six miles long: and nearer to the east is Eglisa, where rumor has it the blessed Magnus is buried. Thus we are led by the heterodox themselves to the knowledge of the ancient veneration of St. Magnus. on which he was killed. That he was killed on the said island will be told below.

[2] A Breviary was printed at Edinburgh in the year 1509, for the use of the distinguished Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, and hence of the whole Scottish Church. Life from the Aberdeen Breviary: In this, for the 16th of April, a double Feast is prescribed for the solemnity of St. Magnus, Apostle of the Orkneys and Hebrides, and Martyr in the Orkney Islands; and nine Lessons are prescribed, but very brief, from the Legend or Life of St. Magnus, which we give here, together with various hymns, antiphons, and orations. There is a memory of the Holy Martyr Magnus the Count inscribed in the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, memory in more recent Calendars, without further notice of any region. Grevenus, in the additions to Usuard, printed at Cologne in the years 1515 and 1516, wrongly assigns the place in these words: In Dacia, of St. Magnus, Count and Martyr. The same, copied from there, are read in Canisius's German Martyrology: which Molanus in the 2nd and 3rd editions of Usuard expanded in his additions with these words: In Dacia, of St. Magnus Count of Arcadia, and Martyr, in the year 1155. With Molanus cited in the Notes, Galesinius writes only this: In Dacia, of St. Magnus Martyr; and in the Notes conveys these things about the place: Dacia, by another name called Davia or Dania, is a region of European Scythia: it received the faith and Christian religion from the Apostles, and from their disciples: of which matter besides other things this can serve as argument, not without errors. that at the first Council of Nicaea two Bishops of Dacia were present, Mark the Metropolitan and Protogenes of Sardica, and other Bishops neighboring the Dacians. Thus Galesinius. Against these Ferrarius rises up, and thus begins this day in the general Catalogue: In Denmark, of St. Magnus Count and Martyr; and treats at length of the situation of Denmark commonly called Danimarcha, and blames those who confuse Denmark with Dacia, very far distant from it (for Dacia, he says, is now Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia), and he adds that St. Magnus suffered around the year 1104, concerning whom the writers of Denmark, among whom Saxo Grammaticus. Thus good men, from mere conjecture, heap errors upon errors. Below, the island of the Orkneys is called Orcadia, whence with the letters transposed it seems to be Ordacia, and with the first syllable removed, called Dacia. Molanus added "Count of Arcadia" for "of the Orkneys." Neither does Saxo Grammaticus or any other writer of Danish affairs make mention of this St. Magnus.

[3] The present-day Scottish Writers themselves are not free from errors. Thomas Dempster in book 12 of the Ecclesiastical History of the Scottish People, chapter 855, has these things: St. Magnus, Scot by race, sent to the Orkney islands (which, casting off the piety they had once drawn from SS. Brendan and Machute, had returned to their former state of unbelief), was afflicted with martyrdom by the wicked Pagans: Dempster reports foolish things he wrote to the Orkney islanders salutary admonitions in book 1. He was living in the year 1109, and is venerated on the 16th day of April. He then cites the Scottish Breviary: which if he had read, he would not have written such foolish things about paganism being resumed. Meanwhile Dempster makes no mention of St. Magnus in his menology on this 16th of April, but seems to have referred it to the 6th of September, where he has this: In the Orkneys, of Magnus, Apostle and Martyr of those peoples, whom they make a Scot, and adds the letters K C, by which he means the Calendar of Adam Regius, James Chinaeus, etc. On the said 6th of September is venerated St. Magnus or Magoaldus the Abbot, in the German Alps at the Julian Fauces, disciple of SS. Columban and Gall, whom both the Irish and Scots contend to have been of their nation. But on the 16th of April, Dempster places St. Molocus, Bishop in the Hebridean islands of the Scots, disciple of St. Brendan, who is celebrated under the rite of a greater double in the Aberdeen Breviary on the 25th of June. Thus he turns and overturns everything at will.

[4] as also Camerarius, who makes him a Bishop. David Camerarius in his Scottish Menology, not without errors, formed this eulogy for this 16th day of April: St. Mannus or Magnus, Bishop and Martyr, who not only vigorously watered the Catholic faith, which Sernanus the holy Apostle of the Orkneys had planted in the Orkneys, but also confirmed it when watered by the shedding of blood. For when the King of the Norwegians was provoking Duncan King of the Scots with war, and is fabricated to have been killed by the King of the Norwegians. and passing through the Orkneys had shed there a great quantity of Christian blood, he orders St. Magnus, Pastor and Bishop of the Orkneys, to be seized: to whom when death was threatened, he fearlessly replied: "I am prepared to die a thousand times for my God, but on the part of almighty God, whom I shall soon serve in blood, I command that you harm no more my little flock, still wet with blood." Afterwards to the executioner, drawing his sword, with great constancy of mind he submitted his head, uttering these last words: "Lord Jesus, to you, to St. Mary, to SS. Palladius and Sernanus, I commend myself and my flock." See the ancient Chronicles, Lesley, and others. St. Mannus suffered in the year of Christ 1104, on an island of the Orkneys named Eglisia, where even to our times he was most celebrated for the glory of miracles, and was celebrated by the inhabitants of the Orkneys. The Aberdeen Breviary also treats of St. Magnus, reporting that he was born of noble parents, that after a looser life passed in adolescence, he wholly surrendered himself to divine service, and compelled by his parents to take a wife, but lived with her ten years in great chastity. His wife dying, he said farewell to the world, and afterwards was raised to the sacred mitre, and crowned with the crown of martyrdom for the Catholic faith. All of which things are contained in a very ancient poem wont to be sung among the Orkneys.

[5] That poem, in which Camerarius omitted the second stanza, wont to be sung at Vespers and Matins, we give in full below: which are rejected. but in it no mention is contained of the sacred mitre or of the Episcopacy received; he is better called "Count of the Orkneys" in external Martyrologies. The ancient Chronicles he cites, while he hides the names, seem to obtain no authority; especially since Lesley, whom he names, is opposed to him. For Lesley reports that King Duncan, who had begun to reign in 1099 after Donald was put to flight, was soon killed by Macpentus, He was killed, however, and Donald recovered the kingdom; and in the fourth year of the recovered kingdom, of Christ 1103, breathed his last: and to him Edgar, son of Malcolm and St. Margaret, was substituted, and reigned peacefully until the year 1109: to whom his brother Alexander was then substituted, and reigned successfully until 1124. Thus Lesley without any mention of St. Magnus, as if he lived at that time, and of the incursion of the King of Norway; whom he asserts under Donald to have fortified the Hebrides islands, surrendered by force of a pact, by placing garrisons. by the treachery of Hakon his cousin, But in vain do we bring these things forward since St. Magnus was not killed at the command of the King of the Norwegians who favored him, for the Christian faith; but by the plots and treachery of Hakon his cousin,

that he might obtain his County. But he is venerated as a Martyr, because through miracles and sanctity of life he obtained ecclesiastical veneration, and poured out his life through shed blood, as we have otherwise often explained concerning the name of Martyrs and Confessors. in what year?

It is said presently in the Acts that blessed Magnus suffered in the year 1104, on the 16th of the Kalends of May, on a Monday: but in the title it is ascribed to the reign of King Alexander in the year 1109, on the 16th of April. But Monday in neither year coincides with the 16th of April, but that day in both years was a Saturday. Perhaps the year noted in the title was the year of the elevation of the body, and the note of Monday ought not to be attached to it: perhaps also for the year 1104 it should be written 1106, and in that year St. Magnus was killed under King Edgar, predecessor of Alexander.

[6] Some of his relics are believed to have been afterwards brought to Aachen; among which is a part of the shoulder, Relics at Aachen and Prague. given in the year 1372 to the Emperor Charles IV, which is now preserved in the metropolitan church of St. Vitus at Prague with many other illustrious Relics, a catalog of which, in the manner of a diary or calendar, was compiled and published by Thomas Pešina of Czechorod, Dean and Official of that same church, and was sent to us by Father Bohuslaus Balbinus of our Society, Historiographer of the same church, promising the very instrument of donation, which we shall give either in the Appendix, if we receive it transcribed in good time.

EPITOME OF HIS LIFE

From the Lessons of the Aberdeen Breviary.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

BHL Number: 5166

FROM THE ABERDEEN BREVIARY.

[1] Sprung from a noble stock Blessed Magnus, born in the Orkney islands, was most noble by descent and of lofty blood. His father, Count and Lord of those islands, is said to have been most distinguished, according to the names of the Great ones who are upon the earth, and his mother no less adorned with noble lineage. But although nobility of birth is wont to prepare ignobility of mind for many, blessed Magnus, while still an infant, instructed by divine grace, judged that nobility of virtue far surpasses nobility of blood. For he acted as an old man in manners, a boy in years; mature in childhood: free from boyish wantonness. In gestures bright and cheerful, in speech so amiable and affable, in gait so modest and grave, that nothing appeared in him which could offend onlookers or be apprehended by them as a fault.

[2] Here are omitted the crimes which, seduced in adolescence, he committed, and his return to the way of virtue, and his continence in marriage; for these will be understood from the Hymns to be recited below. His father having been taken from human affairs in Norway, his father being dead a certain person named Hakon, son of his paternal uncle, rushing upon a certain official of the King of Norway, who was administering Blessed Magnus's portion on behalf of the King, was subjugating the lordship of the whole County of the Orkneys to himself: when only half of the whole County of the Orkneys was his by right: he is excluded from his inheritance by Hakon his cousin, for the other part belonged by hereditary right to blessed Magnus. Without delay, the aforesaid Hakon, the little armory of all wickedness, and his satellites conspired to kill blessed Magnus. Covering up their sedition peaceably with blessed Magnus, they spoke in guile: and now summoned by trickery to the island of Eglise, namely that blessed Magnus and Hakon on an appointed day should meet on a certain island called Eglissei or the island of the Church, with an equal number of armed men, to strike a treaty, to confirm the peace previously spoken of, lest in the future a scruple of contention should be brought forward by the passage of time, and the confirmed peace should by no means be annulled.

[3] This pleased blessed Magnus, and he came to the aforesaid island, on which his dwelling was situated, with two long ships, having no suspicion of any evil. But as the day appointed between them drew near, he goes to the church: the aforesaid Hakon with seven or eight ships, loaded with men thirsting for the blood of the Saints of Christ and associated with him, landed on the said island. Therefore, discovering Hakon's sedition, and not struck with fear, he went to the church: and when his men wanted to repel the force and suggested that he resist Hakon's fury, he is said to have replied: that he preferred to receive injury than to inflict it, knowing that all fraud strikes back on itself.

[4] and while hearing Mass. Now it was the hour in which the Priest, clothed in sacred vestments, at the altar presented the Only-begotten to the Father under the species of bread and wine as a sign of human reconciliation: nor is it to be believed without reason that he did this, so that there might be made a victim, where the saving Victim of the whole world was being offered. Therefore, four officers being sent, whose feet were swift to shed blood, who were more inclined and prompt to every nefarious deed than all the rest, they determine to seize the Anointed of God and have him presented to them. O how dire and unheard-of presumption! The cruelty of a raging wolf does not fear to snatch a sheep, to mangle and to slaughter it in the presence of its Shepherds. he is dragged out. Therefore, as the officers rushed into the church of God, the just man is unjustly seized by the unjust, dragged out, and presented to the presence of Hakon.

[5] Without delay, the sentence given by Hakon is handed to the lictor, that he may be struck with capital sentence. Led out therefore with cheerful mind and undaunted spirit, with cheerful mind he receives the lictor's stroke, as if invited to a banquet, commending his contest to the Lord in prayer, with the axe twice brandished at his brain, he received the blow of the striker. But him whom the lictor took from the world, Christ bore into heaven: his body is laid on the ground, but his soul is exalted in heaven. Today, having laid aside the corruptible garments, he ascends to the heights, and there is to him honor and glory with those reclining together; he ascends, I say, bright with merits and glorious with triumphs. Blessed Magnus the Martyr, crowned with his own blood, suffered in the year of the Lord 1104, on the sixteenth of the Kalends of May, on a Monday.

[6] Now therefore, most beloved, driving away bloody affections, avoiding wicked desires, with the incursions of vices subdued, let us strive with every desire of mind, as far as our fragility permits, to cling to his footsteps: let him be the form, on whom we may impress the model which we should imitate. Therefore destitute of the laws of devotion and due reverence, others are urged to his patronage. and pressed by the weight of our sins, let us earnestly seek the protection of the blessed Martyr; that by his merits and intercessory prayers, we may merit to be made partakers of the unfading crown which he obtained this day, by the grant of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns as God.

* or Man

* rather sixth

INVITATORY

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Celebrating the solemnities of St. Magnus, let us sing the mighty works of the King of Kings.

HYMN

at Matins and Vespers.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

With sweetest hymns let us tell the famous Glories of Magnus with the voices of heart: Bringing forth his wondrous works, Worthy of continual memory.

Born of a great lineage, In childhood he lived in godly fashion: After this he became a man given to crimes, Bred in a wicked race. Converted from vices,

Like Paul, Magnus is converted to the Lord, With his whole soul he follows Christ; He is believed to burn, but is not consumed, Like the flowering bush seen.

So in the chamber the bridegroom with the virgin, With a noted mark of continence, and continent in marriage By divine gift lived apart from Venus For ten years in succession.

Magnus is dragged from the Lord's temple, Filled with the Sacrifice he suffers, He departs from the battle red with martyrdom, after receiving the Eucharist he is slain. And white with the chaste lily.

Let us beg the Lord that his passion May become the washing of our crimes: That he may bestow on us joy everlasting Beyond this exile.

Honor, praise throughout the zones of the world Be to the one Lord, and glory to the Triune In the threefold frame, who rules all things Forever through all ages.

ANOTHER HYMN

divided into Responsories at the 9 Lessons of the Matins Office.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Let the world resound with new joys, Applauding the victory of St. Magnus, In which the heavenly court exults. Rejoice, happy land, Orkney, Shining with the grace of new light.

Evil men are wont to pervert the good, Overcome by whom in his earliest time Magnus began to pursue plunderings: From a robber But God does not delay to snatch his elect From the pact of death,

Magnus the robber is utterly changed, From a ravager he becomes an illustrious father, The lost lamb returns to the sheepfold, made a holy man Full of the breath of the sacred Spirit, This restored wether rules the flock.

8 Beyond the flesh, to live in the flesh Magnus strives by divine gift: Plainly taming himself in wondrous fashion, and preserving his wife a virgin, For ten years in the bed of a Virgin He remained without stain of lust.

Hakon, subjecting Magnus's lands and estates To himself, invaded everything: Madness rages against the meek one. he yields to Hakon's violence Magnus, broken by no injury, Bears all with wondrous constancy.

Magnus yielded to the raging one's hate, The King of the English with royal expense, and remains with the King of England. Worthily cherishes him in his palace: A year passes in the space of time, By the nod of God safe for martyrdom.

9 New treachery thence reigns, Another Abel by the envy of his brother Falls, the victor reigns in glory: He is deceitfully invited to confirm peace, Bewailing these things, Orkney applauds, Hakon under the kiss of peace Prepares death for Magnus with a plan of fraud.

The company of Magnus warns of enemies To drive them off and the wicked crime. The Saint, turning back the charge of iron, takes counsel for the safety of his own. Prefers to suffer martyrdom freely, He joyfully obtained peace for his own: While the flock departs, the shepherd falls,

O kind Jesus, by Magnus's prayers Absolve us guilty from the bonds of harm, With the works of the flesh condemned; Lest we be deprived of eternal seats. Illumine our minds with morals; Grant peace in our days.

THIRD HYMN

distributed into Antiphons

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Converted from vices, Magnus, begotten of a great lineage, In act, life, manners proved the greater: Devoted to plunder as a youth by the suggestion of the wicked, Like Paul he is converted on the road to the way.

Behold Saul becomes Paul, the robber becomes Patron, The persecutor is made a good Shepherd of the people. he excels in every virtue. A holy man worthily elevated to Count, He tames his flesh by continual torments.

Just, pious, humble, meek and modest, He presided over his own by honorable examples: Magnus, above others full of divine grace, Shines like the morning star.

The holy man, having returned to his own, makes peace With the treacherous Hakon, who plans fraud: drawn to the place of ambush, He seeks the church, where, the fraud discovered, He might prepare himself a victim for Christ with certain hope.

The delay of the saving Count troubles the enemies: While the Victim awaits to be refreshed by the Altar, having taken the Eucharist, They drag the holy one, bursting into the temple, The madmen pull him out, full of the sacred food.

Magnus is presented to Hakon's presence: The wolf, already sated, thirsts for the blood of the lamb, he is slain by Hakon's order. He pronounced the sentence, that he should be handed to death; And he is handed to the lictor, that he may carry it out.

The dripping honeycomb is broken, giving the sweetness of honey, Whatever is evil flees by his fragrance. and he shines with miracles. The deaf, the mute, are restored by Magnus's prayers; Health is given to the lame, lepers are cleansed.

Those bound with iron are released by the Martyr's help, The shipwrecked are freed from the bonds of death,

Joy comes to the sorrowful, medicine to the sick, Firm hope in dangers, salvation in ruin.

HYMN AT LAUDS

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Let us exult, sounding together in loud melody, Venerating the insignia of St. Magnus the Martyr, His body is illustrated by miracles of every kind. Proclaiming his worthy miracles after death.

Behold the odor of ointment flows, the alabaster is broken, To any sickness growing heavy, true health is restored: The people rush together, whatever is asked is granted to the needy.

He cleanses leprosy and drives away madness from the demented, He gives the power of sight to those deprived of their lights, Gives the way of speaking to the mute, and gait to the lame.

Those bound in iron are released, the deaf likewise hear: Those broken by falls are soon healed, whatever evils flee: The shipwrecked are freed when the storms rage.

O how the burning of his bone proves this blessed one! Twice like gold to be refined; but burned a third time, His bone becomes a cross, his bone is burned a third time, placed on a cross. sacred by such a wondrous exchange.

Magnus, Father of your servants who supplicate you, Wipe away the stains of our sins, strengthen the faith of minds, So that we may become partakers of the heavenly rewards.

Perennial praise to the Trinity, safety, virtue, glory To the one Deity be the glory, whose wondrous grace All serve in their Majesty through the ages.

VERSICLES AT VESPERS.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Great soldier of God, protect those who observe your feasts: Kind Count of the Orkneys, worthily rule those who venerate you. Drive away, Father, the plagues: piously wash away our stains. Pour forth prayers, that we may reign with you forever.

ANTIPHON AT MAGNIFICAT.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

The light dedicated to the martyrdom of Magnus Is to be observed with continual joy; In which by a grateful exchange Death is changed into life, suffering into applause: O happy death, whose torment Gives the reward of eternal life.

ANOTHER FOR THE TRANSLATION.

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

In this solemnity let us sing a sweet song To the Son of the supreme King, By whose suffrage Magnus the Martyr, Victor under the sword, conquered the enemy: May his holy Translation be to us A perpetual protection against enemies.

AT BENEDICTUS

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

Great Father, comfort the tearful, Sustain the weak with pious help, Snatch the fragile from the chance of death, Let us not be exiles from the kingdom of life.

ORATION AT VESPERS

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

May the precious merits of Saint Magnus your Martyr, O Lord, protect us, in which, proclaiming the works of your Majesty, we may receive help present and future alike.

ANOTHER AT LAUDS

Magnus, Count of the Orkney Islands in Scotland (St.)

O God, by whose nod no course of time passes without the solace of the Saints; grant us, we beseech you, by your most pious condescension, that by the pious intervention of Saint Magnus your Martyr, we may be freed from all adversities, and merit to enjoy the constant protection of your great mercy.