Aberdeen Breviary, summer part (Edinburgh: Chepman & Myllar, 1509-10). Latin office text, extracted from the proprium sanctorum. Contains the end of the office of St Blaise and the office of St Modan the abbot (4 February).

[End of the office of St Blaise:] … besought Saint Blaise that he would cause her pig to be restored to her; who, smiling, said: “Woman, be not dismayed; your pig shall be restored to you”; and so it was done. Lesson 5.

Now Blaise, entering the city, ordered the prefect to be presented to him, saying: “Hail, Blaise, friend of the gods.” But Blaise said: “Hail not the gods of men, for they are devils.” The prefect, angered, commanded him to be beaten with staves and thrust into prison. And when, Lord… Lesson 6.

Moreover the widow to whom he had restored the pig slew the pig itself and brought its head to the saint in prison with candle and bread. He, giving thanks, ate, and said to her: “Every year you shall offer a candle in the church of my name, and it shall be well with you and with whoever does this.” Lesson 7.

Moreover, when he was led out of prison the prefect commanded him to be hung upon a stake and his flesh to be torn with iron combs; seven women following gathered up the drops of his blood, and when they refused to sacrifice they were commanded to be hung and torn with combs, and at length in the confession of the Lord were punished with the head. And when… Lesson 8.

Then the prefect, calling him, said to him: “I have long ago decreed not to worship the gods.” But Blaise said: “Know, wretch, that I am the servant of Christ and worship not devils.” The prefect, again enraged, commanded the holy bishop to be beheaded. Lesson 9.

Now he prayed to the Lord that whoever for infirmity of the throat should ask his patronage might deserve to be heard. And see, a voice came to him from heaven that it should be so as he had prayed; and at length for the faith of Christ he was beheaded. The rest all of the Common of one martyr and pontiff.

Of Saint Modan, confessor and abbot. Prayer:

“O everlasting God, look upon the festivity of this day, and make your church to rejoice in continual celebration by the intercession of the blessed Modan your confessor and abbot, that you may grant the prayers of the sheep believing in you. Through the Lord.” At Vespers, the rest all of the Common of one confessor and abbot. At Matins, nine lessons. First lesson:

Modan, venerable father and most to be feared father of very many monasteries and most religious: he from his infancy under the rule and monastic habit of Premordius [?] passed all the days of his life in poverty, chastity and obedience, like a strenuous soldier of Christ and warlike against the devil, the flesh and the world, continually warring, armed with the breastplate of faith, virtues, justice and the example of life; and overcoming them, leaving all things and following Christ, he followed the apostles in preaching and in the showing of miracles.

Lesson 2.

With heavenly affection he despised the flower of the world and earthly things; he covered himself with a rough cowl; he made himself his own heir in frugality and parsimony; he macerated his body, content meanwhile with bread and water; he used neither wine nor the eating of flesh, save only small herbs and the liquor of the spring; satisfying hunger and thirst he repressed the nature of the flesh and made it lean, that by the chastisement of the body he might overcome the vices of the flesh, taming them, so that among all men he was called the mirror and the form of his religion in the way of truth, virtue, life and sanctity. Lesson 3.

Moreover the blessed Modan restored sight to the blind from the light of faith and healed them whom he had restored in the seeing of their eyes; into the ears of the deaf, dulled by the obstinacy of unbelief, he poured the precious word of truth, the hearing of the heavenly commandments, that when the Lord called them to his grace they answered by obedience; and the prisoners bound through long years by the chastisements of sins and by tortures he loosed and freed, the power of God working in him. And when, Lord… Lesson 4.

Therefore to this man, holy and dear to God, Modan, this name is put upon him, as it were “moderating” or “void of motion” or “bearing a manner”: to whom nothing heavenly was wanting, that he might seek after his will; for the gravity of his manners and the austerity of his life made openly his name and faith most pure; and he subdued his eyes and the other exterior senses, which are accustomed to be called the windows of death, so that they felt not at all the unlawful and vain things of the world. Lesson 5.

These windows of his the divine fear and love shut up; in the hearts of many sons of iniquity he put to flight luxury by chastity; wrath he cast down by patience; envy he extinguished by love; pride he levelled by humility; sloth he overcame by diligence, vigils and prayers, and all the other vices he subdued by virtues opposed to them; so much that the whole Scottish people who dwell in the western region of the Forth or the Scottish sea shone with his doctrine even to Falkirk. Lesson 6.

Now the said Scottish people being brought to the inviolate faith of Christ by the miracles and preaching of the blessed Modan and of his disciples who accompanied him, the blessed Modan, wearied by his exceeding labours, vigils and the occupations of divine studies for the said people and their salvation by the multitude of years, so much that his natural strength failing, the man could scarce move himself on foot…