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The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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language. His prudence, undaunted zeal, pr<strong>of</strong>ound humility, ardent love<br />

<strong>of</strong> God, and o<strong>the</strong>r virtues, shine admirably in <strong>the</strong>m. He died about <strong>the</strong><br />

year 449. See Photius, Bibl. Cod. 232 and 228. Tillem. t. 15, p. 97.<br />

Bolland. 4 Feb, p. 468.<br />

ST. REMBERT, ARCHBISHOP OF BREMEN, C.<br />

HE was a native <strong>of</strong> Flanders, near Bruges, and a monk in <strong>the</strong> neighboring<br />

monastery <strong>of</strong> Turholt. <strong>St</strong>. Anscharius called him to his assistance in his<br />

missionary labors, and in his last sickness recommended him for his<br />

successor, saying: "Rembert is more worthy to be archbishop, than I to<br />

discharge <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> his deacon." After his death, in 865, <strong>St</strong>.<br />

Rembert was unanimously chosen archbishop <strong>of</strong> Hamburg and Bremen, and<br />

superintended all <strong>the</strong> churches <strong>of</strong> Sweden, Denmark, and <strong>the</strong> Lower<br />

Germany, finishing <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir conversion. He also began <strong>the</strong><br />

conversion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sclavi and <strong>the</strong> Vandals, now called Brandenburghers. He<br />

sold <strong>the</strong> sacred vessels to redeem captives from <strong>the</strong> Normans; and gave<br />

<strong>the</strong> horse on which he was riding for <strong>the</strong> ransom <strong>of</strong> a virgin taken by <strong>the</strong><br />

Sclavi. He was most careful never to lose a moment <strong>of</strong> time from serious<br />

duties and prayer, and never to interrupt <strong>the</strong> attention <strong>of</strong> his mind to<br />

God in his exterior functions. He died on <strong>the</strong> 11th <strong>of</strong> June, in 888, but<br />

is commemorated in <strong>the</strong> Roman Martyrology on <strong>the</strong> 4th <strong>of</strong> February, <strong>the</strong> day<br />

on which he was chosen archbishop. His life <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Anscharius is<br />

admired, both for <strong>the</strong> author's accuracy and piety, and for <strong>the</strong> elegance<br />

and correctness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> composition. His letter to Walburge, first abbess<br />

<strong>of</strong> Nienherse, is a pa<strong>the</strong>tic exhortation to humility and virginity. <strong>The</strong><br />

see <strong>of</strong> Hamburg being united to Bremen by <strong>St</strong>. Anscharius, this became <strong>the</strong><br />

metropolitan church <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> Germany: but <strong>the</strong> city becoming<br />

Lu<strong>the</strong>ran, expelled <strong>the</strong> archbishop in <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> Charles V. This see<br />

and that <strong>of</strong> Ferden were secularized and yielded to <strong>the</strong> Swedes by <strong>the</strong><br />

treaty <strong>of</strong> Westphalia, in 1648. See his life written soon after his<br />

death, in Henschenius, p. 555. Mabillon, Act. Bened., &c.<br />

ST. MODAN, ABBOT IN SCOTLAND, C.<br />

www.freecatholicebooks.com<br />

DRYBURGH, situated near Mailros, was anciently one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most famous<br />

monasteries in Scotland: in this house <strong>of</strong> saints, Modan dedicated<br />

himself to God, about <strong>the</strong> year 522. Being persuaded that Christian<br />

perfection is to be attained by holy prayer and contemplation, and by a<br />

close union <strong>of</strong> our souls with God, he gave six or seven hours every day<br />

to prayer, and moreover seasoned with it all his o<strong>the</strong>r actions and<br />

employments. A spirit <strong>of</strong> prayer is founded in <strong>the</strong> purity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

affections, <strong>the</strong> fruit <strong>of</strong> self-denial, humility, and obedience. Hence<br />

proceeded <strong>the</strong> ardor with which our saint studied to crucify his flesh<br />

and senses by <strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> greatest austerities, to place himself<br />

beneath all creatures by <strong>the</strong> most pr<strong>of</strong>ound and sincere humility, and in

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