St. Blane

In addition to St. Lawrence, my own patron saint, August 10 is the feast of St. Blane. Coincidentally, my first assignment found me stationed with a friar who bore the name of this saint so we both celebrated our feast day on August 10.

Saint Blane was a Bishop and Confessor in Scotland, born on the Isle of Bute. His feast is kept on 10 August. Late medieval Scottish texts relate that his mother was Irish and that St Cathan was her brother. It was Cathan who saw to Blane's education in Ireland under Saints Comgall and Kenneth. Blane became a monk, went to Scotland, and was eventually bishop among the Picts. Several miracles are related of him, among them the restoration of a dead boy to life. There can be no doubt that devotion to St Blane was, from early times, popular in Scotland. There was a church of St. Blane in Dumfries and another at Kilblane. In Greenock, the place name Kilblain is thought to refer to a cell or chapel of St. Blane. There is a well in the strath, or valley, called Blane's Well and also a place in the neighborhood called Garcattoun, which might be named after his uncle, St Cathan. His name is recorded on the Scottish landscape at Strathblane in the central lowlands from Loch Lomond to Dunblane. The highest authorities say the saint died 590. The ruins of his church at Kingarth, Bute, where his remains were buried, are still standing and form an object of great interest to antiquarians; St Blane’s Chapel is picturesquely situated about 800 metres from Dunagoil Bay. The bell of his monastery is believed to be preserved at Dunblane. Dunblane Cathedral is said to have been founded on the site first used by St Blane.

St. Blane is a reputed miracle worker, including bringing the young son of a British chief back to life, curing the blind, and lighting fire by making small bolts of lightning jump between his fingers.