March 19 Blessed Clement of Dunblane

Blesssed Clement was a Scotsman by birth who met St. Dominic while they were both studying in Paris. One of the first Dominicans, Clement’s energy  and zeal led him back to Scotland at the request of  the king, Alexander II. He made friends with war leaders and farmers alike. His small band of Dominicans were granted permission to use Robert Bruce’s private mill, but also stayed with village and farm folks during his unceasing travels throughout Scotland. He raised money to build monasteries, rebuild churches and cathedrals, served on papal commissions, moved the Bishops seat from often unreachable Isle of Iona to Dunblane,  and wrote three books. He received perhaps the highest praise for a Dominican from a Protestant historian of the time – “This man was an excellent preacher, learned above many of that time, and of singular integrity of conversation”.

His relics are reported to be in the choir of the Dunblane Cathedral. They can be found along the south wall, below the Great South Windows.  One of which is called the Chaos Window, showing fire, storms, cold and snow – at the bottom of which the five members of Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1912 are named. If you are interested in church architecture, stained glass windows or art, take a minute to check out the Cathedral’s website.

March 2 St. Chad

Patron Saint of Disputed Elections

This is one of the saints that started my musings about saints. Could there be a better name for the patron saint of disputed elections?

St, Chad was a modest monk in the 600s in York, England. When the bishop’s seat became available, St. Wilfrid was appointed. He went off to France to be officially consecrated. He found France much more to his liking than York. He settled in for a long stay. A five year stay. Meanwhile, back in England, the people of York needed a bishop. So King Oswy appointed St. Chad bishop. Except King Oswy had no authority to make such appointment. St. Wilfrid never sent a resignation letter or any letter explaining his absence or expected return. St. Chad took over the duties of bishop, though he was never consecrated as bishop.

Fast forward to St. Wilfrid’s return. He finds a peaceful, prosperous community has grow in his absence. An easy flock to manage. But the people wante St. Chad.  St. Wilfrid saw the writing on the wall and resigned, disappearing into a small monastery. Except, technically, one cannot resign a bishop’s seat. Finally the Bishop of Canterbury had to make the journey from his comfy digs to settle the matter. St. Chad happily stepped down, St. Wilfrid happily went back to his monastery and a brand spanking new bishop was appointed. The Bishop of Canterbury was so impressed with Chad, a year later he was made Bishop of Lichfield. And the Bishop of Canterbury came to consecrate St. Chad himself so as to avoid any further questions of legitimacy.