Saint Kentigern (Jan. 13, 1981).
St Kentigern (or St Mungo) was born at the beginning of the sixth century. He is said to be a native of East Lothian. Kentigern was brought up by St. Serf in a monastic school at Culross on the Firth of Forth. He became a missionary to the people in Strathclyde and was consecrated their bishop. When he was driven out by persecution, he preached in Cumberland and even in Wales where he is said to have founded the monastery of St Asaph. St Kentigern eventually returned to Scotland where he was active in planting or restoring Christianity in the area around Glasgow where he is now patron of the city. His body is believed to be buried in Glasgow Cathedral.
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The bishop has been interwoven with all the centuries and races of men in the development of Christian morals from the dawn of Christianity to our present day.
The divine presence of Christ moves up and down the shores of the Sea of Galilee in the early days when charity and good will among men were unknown. Bishops like Peter and Andrew, John and Philip, and the other apostles, dedicating their lives to the service of Christ, formed the first Christian parishes in the adjacent nations, even sealing their lessons with their blood.
Time passes; history widens; the unseen presence of Christ moves up and down a larger sea - the Mediterranean. Another succession of bishops, like Gregory, Augustine, Ambrose and Athanasius, rise up among the millions, to preach Christ and him crucified. to reform an ugly and beastly social order with the law and charity of Christ.
The races multiply; governments shape their millions of subjects around a larger sea the Atlantic Ocean. An unseen presence walks up and down the se expansive shores, while another group of holy bishops ~ Boniface, Patrick, Augustine, Kentigern, Borromeo, Francis de Sales - appear out of the ranks like patriarchs and prophets of old to remind the pioneers of modern nations and civilisation that Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of the Temple and that they build in vain who do not build on God.
Occasional Sermons and Addresses,
St Mungo's Tomb, Glasgow
Glasgow’s Coat of Arms includes a bird, a fish, a bell and a tree, the symbols of Kentigern.
The Bird commemorates the pet robin owned by Saint Serf, which was accidentally killed by monks who blamed it on Saint Kentigern. Saint Kentigern took the bird in his hands and prayed over it, restoring it to life.
The Fish was one caught by Saint Kentigern in the
When it was slit open, a ring belonging to the Queen of Cadzow was miraculously found inside it. The Queen was suspected of intrigue by her husband, and that she had left with his ring. She has asked Saint Kentigern for help, and he found and restored the ring in this way to clear her name.
The Bell may have been given to Saint Kentigern by the Pope. The originalbell, which was tolled at funerals, no longer exists and was replaced by the magistrates of Glasgow in 1641. The bell of 1641 is preserved in the People’s Palace.
The Tree is symbol of an incident in Saint Kentigern’s childhood. Left in charge of the holy fire in Saint Serf’s monastery, he fell asleep and the fire went out. However he broke off some frozen branches from a hazel tree and miraculously re-kindled the fire.
