the sons of St.
Benedict, the guardians of the secret. Among the churches dedicated
to St. Cuthbert in Scotland were those at Ballantrae, Hailes, Ednam,
Glencairn, Kirkcudbright, Drummelzier, Gienholm (Broughton), Malton,
Edinburgh, Prestwick, Eccles, Drysdale, Girvan, Maybole, Mauchline,
Weem, and even distant Wick. Besides Kirkcudbright (Church {52} of
St. Cuthbert), which gives the name to a whole county, Northumbria is
studded with churches built in his honour, which recall the
resting-places of his body, and witness to the devotion inspired by
those sacred remains to this great saint. Fairs were formerly held on
his feast-day at Ruthwell (Dumfries-shire), and Ordiquhill
(Banffshire)--both for eight days--and probably in other localities
also. His holy wells were at St. Boswell's and in Strathtay
(Perthshire).

22--St. Finian, Wynnin, or Frigidian, Bishop, A.D. 579.

In this saint we have a remarkable instance of a change of name in
accordance with the character of the language spoken in the various
countries in which he successively lived. Born in Ireland of the
royal line of the Kings of Ulster, St. Finian was sent early in the
sixth century to be educated at Candida Casa or Whithorn, where a
famous school of learning and sanctity had grown up round the tomb of
St. Ninian. Returning to his native land, Finian, by the fame of his
wonderful erudition, attracted to him numerous disciples in his {53}
monastery at Moville. Here, among others, was trained the youth who
became in after years the great St. Columba--the Apostle of the north
of Scotland.

After a pilgrimage to Rome whence here turned with a copy of the
Sacred Scriptures--a volume rare and precious in those early
times--Finian again journeyed into Italy and came to the city of
Lucca, where his holiness procured him such regard from the people
that they succeeded in obtaining his consecration as bishop of that
city. It was during his residence there that the wonderful miracle
occurred which St. Gregory the Great, who calls the saint "a man of
rare virtue," relates in his book of Dialogues. This was the turning
of the channel of the river Serchio, which had previously given much
trouble to the citizens by overflowing its banks and spoiling
orchards and vineyards round about. The saint after prayer made a new
channel with a small rake, and commanded the river to flow in that
direction for the future, which it did. He is known in Italy as St.
Frigidian.