Saint Mungo
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Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern, is by tradition an apostle to the Kingdom of Strathclyde, Scotland, and patron saint and legendary founder of the city of Glasgow.
The name Mungo is derived from the Gaelic word Munghu, "dear one", a pet name. Jocelin of Furness, the twelfth century hagiographer of St. Kentigern, 'explains' the name unscientifically: Ken is in Latin caput 'head', and Tyern in Scottish (Albanice) is in Latin dominus 'Lord', thus providing Kentigern with the definition "Chief of the Lord".
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Life and works
As pointed out, his biography is largely uncertain. We have nothing about the saint that predates the twelfth century, when Kentigern was promoted to increase the prestige of the Bishopric of Glasgow, and it is possible that Kentigern was simply invented in this century by Anglo-Norman writers, although it is difficult to believe he was made up out of nothing.
According to the stories about Kentigern, his pregnant mother Thenaw, the daughter of British prince Lothus (from whom the province of Lothian was called; he is identified with King Lot in some versions) was abandoned by her family before his birth about 518 at Culross in Fife. A later version of Kentigern's life claims the saint's father was Owain mab Urien, king of Rheged, who became enamored with Thenaw and raped her when she refused him; he subsequently left her. Mungo's legend indicates that he was Pictish, or at least that his religious teachers were Picts. It has been sugested that the name Kentigern may actually mean "hound lord" rather than "Chief of the Lord", and on this basis it is believed to indicate aristocratic origins. His popular name Mungo, meaning "dear one", was given to him by his religious colleagues.
According to Jocelyn's life of Kentigern, he was brought up until manhood by St. Serf (or Servanus) at his monastery there; but St. Serf lived the following century. Mungo is given credit for much of the Christianisation or re-Christianisation of Strathclyde and Galloway in the days before St. Columba.
At the age of twenty-five Kentigern began his missionary labours at Cathures on the Clyde, the site of modern Glasgow. The Christian king of Strathclyde, Roderick Hael, welcomed the saint, and procured his consecration as bishop, which took place about 540. Mungo is said to have arrived in Glasgow in about 540. He built his church at the Molendinar Burn, where a medieval cathedral now stands. For some thirteen years he laboured in the district, living a most austere life in a cell at the confluence of the Clyde and the Molendinar, and making many converts by his holy example and his preaching. A large community grew up around him, became known as "Clasgu" (meaning the "dear family") and ultimately grew into the town and city of Glasgow.
About 553 a strong anti-Christian movement in Strathclyde compelled Kentigern to leave the district, and he retired to Wales, staying for a time with St. David at Menevia, and afterwards founding a large monastery at Llanelw, now St. Asaph, of which he appointed the holy monk Asaph superior in succession to himself.
In 573, the battle of Arthuret secured the triumph of the Christian cause in Cumbria, and Kentigern, at the earnest appeal of King Roderick, returned thither, with many of his Welsh disciples. For eight years he fixed his see at Hoddam in Dumfriesshire, evangelizing thence the districts of Galloway and Cumberland.
About 581 he finally returned to Glasgow, and here, a year or two later, he was visited by St. Columba, who was at that time labouring in Strathtay. The two saints embraced, held long converse, and exchanged their pastoral staves.
Saint Mungo's legend puts his death at Glasgow, 13 January, 603. Kentigern was buried on the spot where now stands the cathedral dedicated in his honour. His remains are said still to rest in the crypt. His festival was kept throughout Scotland on 13 January. The Bollandists have printed a special mass for this feast, dating from the thirteenth century. His feast day in the West is 1 July; his feast day in the Eastern Orthodox Church is 14 January.
Miracles
In the legend of Saint Mungo, he performed four religious miracles in Glasgow. The following verse is used to remember Mungo's four miracles:
- Here is the bird that never flew
- Here is the tree that never grew
- Here is the bell that never rang
- Here is the fish that never swam
The verses refer to the following:
- The Bird — Mungo restored life to the pet robin of St. Serf, which had been killed by some of his fellow classmates, hoping to blame him for its death.
- The Tree — Mungo had been left in charge of a fire in St. Serf's monastery. He fell asleep and the fire went out. Taking branches from a tree, he restarted the fire.
- The Bell — the bell is thought to have been brought by Mungo from Rome. It was said to have been used in services and to mourn the deceased. The original bell no longer exists, and a replacement, created in the 1640s, is now on display in Glasgow.
- The Fish — refers to the story about a queen who was suspected of infidelity by her husband. The King demanded to see her ring, which he claimed she had given to her lover; in reality the King had thrown it into the River Clyde. Faced with execution she appealed for help to Mungo, who ordered a messenger to catch a fish in the river. On opening the fish, the ring was miraculously found inside, which allowed the Queen to clear her name. (This story may be confused with an almost identical one concerning Maelgwn Hir ap Cadwallon of Gwynedd)
Patron saint
Mungo's four religious miracles in Glasgow, which are represented in the city's coat of arms. Glasgow's current motto Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of his word and the praising of his name and the more secular Let Glasgow flourish, are both inspired by Kentigern's original call "Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the word".
In addition to parts of Scotland, Mungo or Kentigern is the patron of two schools in Auckland, New Zealand: Saint Kentigern College and Saint Kentigern School. Saint Kentigern School is an exclusive boys-only private junior school, while Saint Kentigern College is a private co-ed college. Both are Presbyterian church schools, and have over 2,000 students combined.
In the fictional world of Harry Potter, Saint Mungo is the patron of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
References
- Pocket Dictionary of Saints, published 1983, by Image Books
- Catholic Encyclopedia- St. Kentigern at the Catholic Encyclopedia