St. Waltheof of Melrose: Forgiveness and Prayer

Melrose Abbey. (Source.)

My friends know that I have a great devotion to the saints, especially those off the beaten path, who may not have much of a public cultus.  In my years in the monastery, the evening reading from a bound, typescript translation of the Cistercian Menology was one of my favorite times of the day.  In addition to giving a bit more detail about the day’s Cistercian heavy hitters, who would also be mentioned in the Martyrology, the Menology, gave blurbs for those I liked to think of as God’s also-rans—the servants of God, venerables, and blesseds, who might have languished in relative obscurity for centuries.

Today’s entry in the modern Cistercian Menology for St. Waltheof, Abbot of Melrose, is just such a case.  Also known as Walden, Waldef, etc., he died in 1160.  His life is recorded as follows:

After his father's death, his mother married King David of Scotland and Waltheof was brought up at court where St Aelred became his close friend. Unlike Aelred, however, Waltheof was not attracted by court life and cultured society. He became a canon of St Augustine and was made prior of their house at Kirkham.

Three Hymns for the Feast of Ss. Joachim and Anne

 St. Anne with St. Mary as a girl, St. Mary's Church, Altus, AR.

In the Cistercian Calendar, as is often the case with anything touching the BVM, today carries a higher rank than it does in the Universal Calendar. Ss. Joachim and Anne are celebrated as a feast with a full proper office. Here are the textes of today's three hymns.

Mother Anne, be joyful;
Sing, O mother holy,
Since thou art the parent
Of God’s Mother lowly.

Praise thy wondrous daughter;
Joachim, too raises.
To the Virgin Mary
His paternal praises.

The Feast of St. James: Beginning a New Road

 Shells of St. James in arms on a wall tomb at the Abbey of St. Paul in the Field, Barcelona.

I am yet to make it to the Shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compoestela, but over a couple of summer trips, I have gotten to see several stops along the pilgrimage route as well as several altars and pilgrim marks in the churches of Catalonia.  As James is one of the saints of pilgrimage par excellence, his feast day seems to be an appropriate day to launch this blog.

 

Altar of St. James at the Basilica of Saint Paul Serge in Narbonne.

 

Abbey of St. Michael of Cuxa in the French Pyrennes.

This is he, who first among the Apostles planted the Church with his own blood. * His body was borne into Galicia and his glory enlightens the whole world.

V. O light and splendour of Spain, Holy James the Apostle, intercede for us with the Lord who has chosen you.

* His body was borne into Galicia and his glory enlightens the whole world.

V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

* His body was borne into Galicia and his glory enlightens the whole world.

-Responsory for the Third Nocturn of the Feast of St. James

 Altar of St. James, Argeles-sur-Mer, French Catalan Coast

The Priory of Marcevol in the French Pyrennes.