Celtic Saints Trivia Quiz

Answer: wolf

Ailbe was the illegitimate child of Olchais, the son of King Cronan, and a maidservant. Olcais ran away fearing punishment for his "indiscretion" and Cronan ordered that the baby be left to die.

The baby was suckled by a she-wolf and eventually found by a man named Lochan who named him Ailbe (meaning rock). Ailbe, who was always fascinated by nature and the Creation, later became a monk and rose to the rank of Bishop. During a hunt an old she-wolf sought refuge in his cloak. He refused to allow the wolf to be killed saying "When I was feeble and friendless you protected me and now I will do the same for you".

Saint Ailbe's feast day is September 12.

Answer: give up his profession and become a monk

The huntsman was said to have been so moved that he fell on his knees, threw away his quiver, and became a follower of Saint Neot. He gave Neot his hunting horn to hang, as a memorial, in the church at Bodmin, Cornwall, where it remained for centuries. The huntsman became one of the monks of the Church of St. Petroch.

Saint Neot lived his life in harmony with nature and was believed to have power over animals. Once when his prayers were disturbed by noisy crows they became quiet and resumed their noise when his prayers were finished. Other stories tell of his oxen being stolen and wild deer pulling his plow.

Saint Neot's feast day is October 28.

Answer: Saint Melangell

Saint Melangell was the beautiful daughter of an Irish king who gave up her status, defied her father's orders for an arranged marriage and fled to Wales.

One day the Prince of Powys found her devoutly praying in the woods. The hare he had been chasing was peeking out from the sleeve of her garment at the hunting dogs. When the Prince ordered the dogs to catch the hare they retreated and ran off. When the Prince realized she was praying he acknowledged Melangell as a "handmaiden of the true God, and most sincere worshiper of Christ".

The Prince gave her the lands on which he was hunting and they became a sanctuary under her guardianship. No animals were killed on her land and it became a refuge for people as well, to claim sanctuary from persecution.

Her feast day is May 27.

Answer: True

One example is Saint Carannog. Like most Celtic priests Carannog was self-sufficient and began digging the foundation of a church. While carving a pastoral staff he noticed a wood pigeon flying off with the wood shavings Seeing this as an omen he followed the bird and discovered that she was using the shavings for her nest. Carannog abandoned the previously dug foundation and built a church at the site the pigeon "selected" for him!

His feast day is May 16.

Answer: It was the lost grave of a saint.

The stag paused at the site of the lost grave of Saint Hoiernin and sought the Saint's protection.

Saint Hoiernin, a native of Britain, traveled and settled in Carhaix, France. He was promised as much land as he could enclose in one day. He used his staff and designated a considerable portion where he lived, as a hermit, later died and was buried.

The land was ravaged by war and was desolate until years later when Conmore was hunting. Conmore later erected a church over the tomb.

His feast day is July 31.

Answer: True

Endelienta was a Cornish holy woman who lived on a diet of cow's milk and water. One day her beloved cow strayed onto the property of a nobleman who killed it. Endelienta's godfather was so enraged he killed the nobleman. When she learned of the poor man's fate she restored both the nobleman and the cow to life.

The Church of St. Endellion (a variation of her name) stands on the exact spot where the ox cart stopped.

Her feast day is April 29.

Answer: his own reflection in water

As the son of the Irish King Clyto, Saint Fingar's life was privileged and he was given lands to settle. Upon seeing his reflection he was very impressed by his handsomeness! He realized his beauty came from God and resolved to devote his life to his Creator. He gave up his wealth and built a hut next to the spring and lived as a hermit.

Saint Fingar's feast day is December 14.

Answer: Saint Brigid of Kildare

Saint Brigid was believed to be the daughter of a Pagan chieftain and a slave. She intervened when she witnessed her father beating a female slave and became known as a protectress of women. She would call to wild geese and ducks who would immediately come to her for caresses trusting her kind and gentle nature.

Her feast day is February 1.

Answer: True

Saint Aelhaiarn received his name as a result of a terrible incident. He was the unnamed servant of Saint Beuno. One day, out of curiosity, he followed Beuno on his daily walk to pray. Beuno did not recognize him and thought him to be a thief. Beuno prayed that he be taught a lesson by God and as a result Aelhaiarn was killed by the animals. When Saint Beuno realized the poor man was his servant he collected all the flesh and bones that he could find and reassembled the body. Unable to find one eyebrow, he used the metal tip from his staff.

Saint Aelhaiarn followed Saint Beuno's footsteps and became a priest and tended a holy well near a church in Llanaelhaiarn (Wales). The sick would come and bathe in the waters of which Saint Aelhaiarn became a symbol.

His feast day is November 2.

Answer: it was white

Saint Gwynllyw (also known as Saint Wooloo) elevated himself to king by robbing and plundering. After seeing a vision of an angel he became a man of peace and religion. When he saw a beautiful white ox on a hill he built his settlement. After his death it became the Church of Saint Wooloo and he has since been honored for his reformed exemplary life.

His feast day is March 29.