Breviarium Aberdonense, pars aestivalis (Edinburgh: Chepman & Myllar, 1509-10). Latin office text, unedited blackletter OCR — quality is poor; extracted from the proprium sanctorum. Contains the end of the office of St Genevieve; the offices of St Kentigerna (7 Jan.), St Nathalan (8 Jan.), St Fillan (9 Jan.); and the beginning of the office of St Kentigern (13 Jan.).

[End of the office of St Genevieve:] … her parents being taken away from her, when she had gone into a little city, such a palsy seized her that all the limbs of her body were relaxed and her joints loosed. For three days she burned with fever; her health being recovered, she said that she had been carried in the spirit by an angel into the glory of the saints and the torments of the wicked, and from there she began to make known the secrets of consciences in wonderful manner. Lesson 5.

A certain young man fell into a pit, and was drawn out dead and offered to Saint Genevieve: but she, having recourse to prayer, laid her cloak upon the corpse, and at the ninth hour raised him to life. Of the abstinence of this holy virgin and also of her virtues Vincent speaks thus in the Mirror: from the fifteenth year of her age until the fiftieth her food was barley bread and beans, which after two or three weeks she would boil again in a pot. And when… The last lesson is of the Octave of St John the Apostle and Evangelist; but in the octave of the same…

Moreover she fasted three days in the week; and she never drank wine or any intoxicating drink. After her fiftieth year, however, on account of obedience she took fish and milk with barley bread at the bidding of the bishops.

Once on a night, going out to the basilica of Saint Denis, the candle that was borne before her was extinguished; the virgins that were with her being troubled, she bade a candle be given her, which, when she held it, was at once kindled. And when…

At the same time, when she rose from prayer prostrate in church, a candle not yet touched by fire was kindled by divine will in her hand. With such sanctity she was endowed that, full of the spirit of prophecy, she expelled all diseases from human bodies. Thus Vincent. And when… The rest all of the Common of one virgin not a martyr, with the commemorations of the Virgin.

Of Saint Kentigerna, mother of the abbot Foelan. Prayer:

“O almighty and merciful God, grant that we who cannot worthily venerate the solemn feasts of Saint Kentigerna, kept by us, may offer you humble prayers through her merits interceding for us. Through the Lord.” At Matins, nine lessons. Lesson 1.

Kentigerna, a most devout matron, derived her origin from the royal stock of the Scots and of the province, being the daughter of a petty king of the Leinstermen; and she was joined in the indissoluble bond of matrimony to Feriach, a petty king of the Mochestree. She had a full brother, Comgan by name, a man most observant of God; and a son of proved gravity, Foelan [Fillan] by name, most gentle by birth — who was indeed born bearing in his mouth a stone; on account of the deformity of which child his parents caused him to be cast headlong into a certain lake, which was at once done by their ministers. And when… Lesson 2.

But God, moved by the sudden immersion of the innocent little infant, with intent mind heard the long lamentation and sighs with which she besought for her son’s restoration, that he might deliver him from the said deformity safe and whole. The prayer being offered, at the bidding of him who raises up all things cast down, a certain bishop of great probity and holiness — who strenuously opposed contrary thoughts — while Kentigerna was praying, found Foelan, the son of the said Kentigerna, for whose restoration she had at length but now prayed, among the angels rejoicing. Lesson 3.

Now the said bishop, drawing near the lake, finding the divine infant under the waters torn from a certain stone, admiring the unwonted miracle, lifted the infant from the lake all unhurt, and presented him whole and without any deformity to his mother Kentigerna; whom thereafter he signed with the sign of the holy cross in chrism, and marked him with the doctrines of the Christian faith in the virtue above, and confirmed the baptized child in the same faith. And when… The remaining lessons are of the history of the Epiphany. Lesson 7, of the proper history of Saint Kentigerna.

The things that were done by the blessed Kentigerna in her monastic life — pilgrimages and generations of humility, continence, and abundant mercy toward the poor of Christ, and piety and incredible hospitality — she exercised ardently in the love of Christ until her happy death, in the company of angels and the fellowship of saints, almost in contemplation.

Now the fourth year after the death of her husband the king came, and she prepared the royal dainties by which on those days she splendidly feasted; and leaving her native country, friends, and people, with her son Foelan and her brother Comgan, a most devout man upheld by very great miracles, fleeing the fellowship of the Munnan, she came even to Strathfillan in the region of Aubercuru, where for some time she lived with them in great contemplation. Lesson … of her own people.

Deprived of the company and presence of her son and her brother Comgan, in contemplative grace she betook herself to the island Inchcailloch in Loch Lomond in Lennox, alone with herself in the anchorite life, content only with small herbs and water, in all patience, integrity of life and sanctity. In fasts, vigils and prayer she passed her happiest days, offering a most beautiful example to all women; and at length, after the various other merits of the good penance, full of days, on the seventh of the Ides of January [7 January], sending forth her spirit, she flew to Christ on high. In veneration of her, the parish church in the aforementioned island is dedicated to this day. The rest all of the Common of one matron, with commemoration of the Epiphany. Prayer as above.

Of Saint Nathalan bishop and confessor. Prayer:

“Grant us, we beseech you, O Lord, to adhere devoutly to the imitation of your holy Nathalan, and by the intercession of the blessed Nathalan your confessor and pontiff, that with the same we may deserve to sing your praises in glory. Through the Lord.” At Matins, nine lessons with commemoration; and the middle lessons of the Epiphany. Lesson 1.

Nathalan, among all, as fame was, most celebrated, and the thing itself commemorates by various miracles. In the northern part of the Scots a man of great sanctity and devotion was he, who in ancient times is believed to have flourished at Tullicht in the diocese of Aberdeen; and when he had passed the years of manhood, instructed in the liberal disciplines, he dedicated himself and his wholly to divine contemplation. Lesson 2.

Now among other exercises in the Lord, rustic husbandry — he had learned to approach nearer to his contemplation — he tilled the fields with his own hands, though he had been nobly nurtured of a noble family; he exercised the humble art, other superstitions being left, so that the filth of carnal turpitude might not corrupt his mind. Lesson 3.

Meanwhile, while he warred against the devil and the frail world, a dire famine pressed upon the neighbouring people and their kinsfolk in the country, so much that almost the whole people were exposed to danger of death by hunger and want of food. But Nathalan, the man of God, moved by no small piety, distributed all his grain and all his other goods to the poor in Christ’s name. But in the severe time when all the provender of the earth had been eaten by the men, not having wherewith to sow the fields with his own hands, by divine revelation he ordered sand to be scattered and sown. Whereupon of every kind of grain, from the sand sown, the crops grew in multiplied measure. Lesson … is of the history of the Epiphany of the Lord, save in the churches dedicated to him in which the principal feast is kept of him. Lesson 4.

Now at the time of harvest, a great multitude of men and women being gathered to gather this kind of grain, a violent tempest of wind and rain was sent from heaven upon them, so much that the aforementioned reapers were compelled to withdraw from the gathering of this kind of grain; whereupon he in the first heat of wrath, murmuring a little with the other reapers against God — but at once the tempest ceasing, he, the man of God, perceiving that he had offended, stricken with penance bound himself with an iron chain and a key, and locked himself in the same; and the key he cast into the river Dee, vowing that he would not unlock it until he should visit the thresholds of the apostles Peter and Paul; which also was done. Lesson 5.

Going from there into the city of the Scots, he worshipped the monuments of God, which the Creator himself had before offended — most piously meditating he went and praying he adored. And as he went through the streets of that city, a naked boy bearing a little fish to sell met him, from whom by divine virtue he bought it for a humble and modest price. In the entrails of the fish he found the iron key which he had cast into the river Dee, without rust, wherewith he unlocked his chain. Now the pontiff of Rome, certified of so great a miracle, called him into his presence; and consecrated him bishop by the grace of the Holy Spirit from a humble husbandman. Lesson 6.

Now for many years, presenting himself acceptable to God in divine contemplation, having passed his days at Rome, yet not unmindful of his native soil, brought back to extreme old age, by the great indulgence of the Roman pontiff he came to that part of Scotland from which he had first drawn his origin; and having built churches in the same place at Tullicht, Bothelim [Bethelinie?] and Colle [Coull], he consecrated them to almighty God at his own expense — which are dedicated in his honour to this day. Now the blessed Nathalan, full of grace, shone with the signs of various miracles, and on the eighth of the Ides of January [6 January] commended his soul to Christ, and ascended into the heavens above; and at Tullicht he is held in great veneration, offering health to those who come there devoutly and piously with tears. The rest all of the Common of one confessor and pontiff, with commemoration of the Epiphany and of the middle lessons of Mary and of Saint Mary. Prayer as above.

Of Saint Foelan [Fillan] the abbot and confessor. Prayer:

“O God, who did save the blessed Foelan your confessor and abbot, cast into the depths of the river, from death; and in the same did comfort him through the year’s course by angelic visitation: grant, we beseech you, that by his interceding aid we may be effectually relieved of the wished-for things. Through the Lord.” At Matins, nine lessons, with commemoration and middle lessons of the Epiphany and of Saint Mary. Lesson 1.

Foelan was of the noble family of the Scots by propagation of blood — his father Feriach by name, and his mother Kentigerna, a most devout woman, he drew his origin. Being born, as had been prophesied of him, with a stone in his mouth — for which cause he was given over by his father to contempt — his father ordered him, when born, to be cast and drowned in a certain lake or pool near by. In which for a whole year he was divinely nourished by angels the ministers of God; and when the year had passed, by divine revelation he was found by Ibar the bishop, and lifted safe from the lake among the angels rejoicing, and was made a Christian by baptism and marked with the divine letters. And when… Lesson 2.

When his years of youth had passed, he betook himself to the most devout abbot Munda, from whom he received the rule and habit of the monastic life. In his monastery, not far from the cloister, he built for himself a little cell apart, that he might more easily give himself to divine contemplation in secret. In which, on a certain night, when the brethren of that monastery sent a certain servant to bid him to the meal prepared for them, the servant, peeping through the little window of the said cell to see what he did, saw the blessed Foelan writing in the darkness, his left hand giving forth bright light to his right. And that servant, marvelling at the deed, at once returned and told the brethren.

Lesson 3. Now the blessed Foelan, divinely certified of the deed that had been done, was indignant with the servant that he had revealed his brethren’s secret; therefore by the divine disposition a crane that was in the same monastery plucked out the eye of that domestic servant and blinded him; but the blessed Foelan himself, moved by pity and by the supplication and instance of his brethren, restored the servant’s eye again whole. The rest of the middle lessons of the Epiphany of the Lord; and the last of the nocturns according to order. Lesson 4.

Hereafter, when the fame of the said Foelan was preached everywhere, his blessed father Munda having rendered up his life, the blessed Foelan was chosen abbot of that monastery over which he had presided, by the unanimous consent of the brethren, though unwilling; yet he governed the rule committed to him happily by virtues and examples of the best manners, and instructed and formed his brethren in all sanctity, chastity and humility, and treated those whom he found believing in Christ as his dearest and especial friends in the charity and love of God, observing hospitality above all things. And when, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Lesson 5.

By angelic admonition, leaving his mother Saint Kentigerna and his uncle Comgan, a most holy man, he came to the place which is called Strathfillan in the superior part of Glen Dochart; in which place, with seven clerical servants, a place for building a basilica was divinely shown him; where, tarrying a little with his little dog, he utterly put to flight a most fierce wild boar which had devastated the whole region thereabouts with its ravages; and various folk of the same place he converted to the faith of Christ from the error of heathendom and idolatry and treachery. Lesson 9.

Now as he was building the church in the place shown him from heaven, when the oxen had been loosed from their waggons, a savage and wild wolf slew and devoured one of the oxen by night; and in the morning, not having an ox to supply the place of the slain ox, prayer being made to God, the wolf came back as it were tame, and submitted himself under the yoke of the plough with the other oxen; and persevering until the completion of the said church, he remained drawing with the rest, and when it was done returned to his own nature, doing hurt to none. Now the blessed Foelan, after very many and various other works of miracles, full of happy days, on the fifth of the Ides of January [9 January] passed to Christ, and in the said church which lies between Strathfillan was honourably given over to burial, and rests there. And when… The rest all of the Common of one abbot, with prayer as above, with commemoration of the Epiphany or of Saint Mary.

Of Saint Kentigern bishop and confessor, greater double. At first Vespers, if the church is dedicated to him, let them say: psalm [Laudate], with his own antiphons as here. But if it is not dedicated: first psalm Ferial. Antiphon: “Let the boy Kentigern praise God; conceived, he obtained the highest grace.” Psalm: Laudate pueri. Antiphon: “Praise the Lord, you tongues of the people; Servanus blessedly nursed the little boy.” Psalm: Laudate Dominum. Antiphon: “Praise, sweet soul, praise Kentigern God, who made you the father of the eternal fatherland.” Psalm: Lauda anima mea Dominum. “Praise and honour to the Lord with sounding psalm, Kentigern we ask: pray for us.” Psalm: Laudate Dominum quoniam bonus. Antiphon: “Orbo praise the Lord’s glory; let Kentigern exalt, Christ the highest praise.” Psalm: Lauda Ierusalem Dominum. Hymn: “See a great priest…” Verse: “you are a priest, noblest offspring of kings, through whom Lothian and now the whole church shines. A great part of Scotland is converted to the faith, gracious one. Through whom… Glory… Through whom.”

Hymn: “A bright festival gleams, when Kentigern’s dignity is borne to the stars of heaven after the funeral rites of pure flesh. This man, flower of the people, light of Lothian, burning beam of a kindly stock: let the fatherland exult and Glasgow praise for ever; under so powerful a prelate the Scottish land rejoices, seeing the signs of the saint. Lothian rejoices with the holy seed; he adorns, he makes fair, our whole race rejoices. Laud, honour, brightness, glory, virtue, honour, victory be to the Trinity, due for infinite ages. Amen.”

Verse: “The Lord loved him.” Antiphon: “O Kentigern, noble gem, shepherd strong in the pledge of salvation; O faithful dispenser of Christ, succour, I pray, your little servants that they may see the light with you on high.” Psalm: Magnificat. Prayer:

“O God, who did wonderfully foreshow the blessed Kentigern your confessor and pontiff to be the teacher and ruler of your church: grant, we beseech you, that we whose venerable solemnity we celebrate may ever obtain his suffrages. Through the Lord.”

Then let a solemn commemoration be made of the Octave of the Epiphany with antiphon and collect as on the first day. Then a private commemoration of Saint Hilary with this antiphon: “you did liken…” “In glory and honour.” Prayer: “O God, who did give the day of the deposition of the blessed Hilary your confessor and pontiff to our supplication, grant us perpetual joy through his intercession, benign one.” Then of Saint Mary.

At Matins, nine lessons. Invitatory: “The triune God we worship, and him, whom Saint Kentigern gave himself up to, let us praise.” Psalm: Venite. Hymn: “A bright festival gleams.” In the first nocturn antiphon: “Happy the man who glories in the deeds of faith and meditates in the law of the Lord.” Psalm: Beatus vir. Antiphon: “In the ancient manner he learned to serve God and strove to obey the commandments of him.” Psalm: Quare fremuerunt. Antiphon: “By the mount of God the heavenly host took Kentigern, adorned.” Psalm: Domine quid multiplicati. Verse: “The Lord loved him.”

First lesson:

The illustrious confessor of God Kentigern, of the noblest Scottish stock of famous men — his father Eugenius, king of the land of Eufuren [Urien], his mother Teneu, daughter of Loath, king of Lothian; whom his father, having conceived, sent over the sea to be drowned in the sea in a hide-covered coracle; and he sent her from Lothian, which by divine will, cast upon the waves of the sea to Culross, came to land. And in the same place, the angels breathing upon her, she brought forth her son; in which place a notable chapel is dedicated in his honour to this present day. From where Saint Servanus, warned by angelic admonition and certified by his shepherds, coming to the shore, gloriously received the mother and the infant at the sacred font…