Saint Cathróe (circa 900–971) was a monk and abbot. His life is recorded in a hagiography written soon after his death by a monk at the monastery of Saint Felix [fr] at Metz, where Cathróe was abbot. Miracles of healing were attributed to Cathróe during his life, and he was considered a saint after his death.
As well as the information it contains on events in Lotharingia and Germany, and on attitudes of the time, Cathróe's life is of particular interest to historians for the light it sheds on southern Scotland in the 10th century.
One clue to Cathróe's background, his name, has also proved to be a stumbling block. In his Life, it is commonly spelt as Cathroe, but other forms are given such as Cadroe (heading) and Kaddroe (3x), which come closer to those used later at Metz (Cadroe, Kadroe).[1] His biographer explains it as meaning "a soldier in the Lord's camp(s)" (bellator in castris Dominis).[2] Some scholars have proposed that what the continental monks heard and transcribed was a Brythonic, more specifically Old Cumbric name, the first element of which represents Cumbric Cat "battle".[3] However, following John Colgan's lead, David Dumville favours a Goidelic etymology. He points out that the personal name Cathróe is attested in Old and Middle Irish and can be explained as a compound meaning "battle-field" (Cath, cognate with Welsh cat, + róe).[4]
Cathróe was born circa 900. Neil McGuigan suggests that he grew up in or near Dunkeld in Scotland.[5] His father's name is given as Fochereach, a nobleman, his mother was Bania, who came from a similar background. After the birth of a brother with the Goidelic name Mattadán, Cathróe was fostered with his paternal uncle Beanus (Saint Bean; there were several Gaelic saints of this name).
Pilgrimageedit
Bean sent his nephew to study in Ireland, at Armagh, where he seems to have learned both Latin and Greek. He returned to Scotland, to teach in his uncle's monastery. Visions persuaded Cathróe to leave Scotland as a pilgrim. The hagiographer tells us that "the king that ruled the land, Constantine by name, hastened to hold back [Cathróe]". Cathróe entered the "house of the blessed Brigit", presumed to be the monastery dedicated to Saint Brigid of Kildare at Abernethy. "A certain abbot, called Maelodair [Máel Odran]" persuaded King Constantine to allow Catroe to leave, and to help him on his journey. "Then all emulously rendered assistance with gold and silver, with raiment and horses' and they sped [Cathróe] with God's blessing; and conducted by the king himself he came to the Cumbrians' land." The writer tells us that King Dovenaldus ruled the Cumbrians, and that he was Cathróe's kinsman. The king escorted Catroe to Loidam Civitatem (read as Leeds or Carlisle), "which is the boundary between the Cumbrians and the Northmen".
In York, Cathróe was welcomed, the writer claims, by King Eric, whose wife was a relative of Cathróe's. This is problematic as Eric Bloodaxe is not thought to have ruled York at the time of the journey, and Eric's wife Gunnhild was said to be Norwegian.[6]
One Ousmann (or Reimann or Erimann) wrote a hagiography.
Notesedit
^David Dumville, "St Cathróe of Metz." p. 172 n. 1.
^§ VI; David Dumville, "St Cathróe of Metz." p. 175 n. 18.
^A.O. Anderson, Early sources. p. lxxiii and 432 n. 2; Alan MacQuarrie, "Catroe", who also raises the possibility that the name was Pictish.
^David Dumville, "St Cathróe of Metz." p. 172 n. 1. Peter E. Busse, "Catroe/Cadroe", supports a Celtic derivation on the basis of the first element, but remains agnostic on this point.
^McGuigan, Neil (2021), Máel Coluim III 'Canmore': An Eleventh Century Scottish King, John Donald, Edinburgh, pp. 28 & 427, ISBN9781910900192
^Adomnán's Vite Columbae and the cult of Colum Cille in continental Europe. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C, Volume 98, 1998
Referencesedit
Reimann or Ousmann, De S. Cadroe abbate, ed. John Colgan, Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae, Vol. 1. pp. 494 ff; in part reprinted by W.F. Skene, Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots. pp. 106–116; ed. the Bollandists, Acta Sanctorum. 1865. March 1, 473-80 (incomplete); ed. and tr. A.O. Anderson, Early Sources of Scottish History, A.D. 500 to 1286. (from Colgan's edition, pp. 495–7). No full translation has appeared to this date.
Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History A.D 500–1286, volume 1. Reprinted with corrections. Paul Watkins, Stamford, 1990. ISBN1-871615-03-8
Busse, Peter E. "Catroe/Cadroe." In Celtic Culture. A Historical Encyclopedia, ed. John Koch. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, 2006. 356.
Downham, Clare, "Erik Bloodaxe - axed? The Mystery of the Last Viking King of York", Medieval Scandinavia 14 (2004) 51–77.
Dumville, D.N. "St Cathróe of Metz and the hagiography of exoticism." In Studies in Irish Hagiography. Saints and scholars, ed. John Carey, Máire Herbert and Pádraig Ó Riain. Dublin, 2001. 172–88.
MacQuarrie, Alan, The Saints of Scotland: Essays in Scottish Church History AD 450–1093. Edinburgh: John Donald, 1997. ISBN0-85976-446-X
MacQuarrie, Alan. "Catroe (900/01–971)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2004. Accessed 27 Jan 2009.
Picard, Jean-Michel (1998). (PDF). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Section C, Volume 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2007.
April 09, 2024
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Cathroe redirects here For the Bishop of St Andrews see Cathroe bishop of the Scots Saint Cathroe circa 900 971 was a monk and abbot His life is recorded in a hagiography written soon after his death by a monk at the monastery of Saint Felix fr at Metz where Cathroe was abbot Miracles of healing were attributed to Cathroe during his life and he was considered a saint after his death CathroeVenerated inRoman Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchFeast6 MarchAs well as the information it contains on events in Lotharingia and Germany and on attitudes of the time Cathroe s life is of particular interest to historians for the light it sheds on southern Scotland in the 10th century Contents 1 Origins 2 Pilgrimage 3 Later career 4 Hagiography 5 Notes 6 ReferencesOrigins editOne clue to Cathroe s background his name has also proved to be a stumbling block In his Life it is commonly spelt as Cathroe but other forms are given such as Cadroe heading and Kaddroe 3x which come closer to those used later at Metz Cadroe Kadroe 1 His biographer explains it as meaning a soldier in the Lord s camp s bellator in castris Dominis 2 Some scholars have proposed that what the continental monks heard and transcribed was a Brythonic more specifically Old Cumbric name the first element of which represents Cumbric Cat battle 3 However following John Colgan s lead David Dumville favours a Goidelic etymology He points out that the personal name Cathroe is attested in Old and Middle Irish and can be explained as a compound meaning battle field Cath cognate with Welsh cat roe 4 Cathroe was born circa 900 Neil McGuigan suggests that he grew up in or near Dunkeld in Scotland 5 His father s name is given as Fochereach a nobleman his mother was Bania who came from a similar background After the birth of a brother with the Goidelic name Mattadan Cathroe was fostered with his paternal uncle Beanus Saint Bean there were several Gaelic saints of this name Pilgrimage editBean sent his nephew to study in Ireland at Armagh where he seems to have learned both Latin and Greek He returned to Scotland to teach in his uncle s monastery Visions persuaded Cathroe to leave Scotland as a pilgrim The hagiographer tells us that the king that ruled the land Constantine by name hastened to hold back Cathroe Cathroe entered the house of the blessed Brigit presumed to be the monastery dedicated to Saint Brigid of Kildare at Abernethy A certain abbot called Maelodair Mael Odran persuaded King Constantine to allow Catroe to leave and to help him on his journey Then all emulously rendered assistance with gold and silver with raiment and horses and they sped Cathroe with God s blessing and conducted by the king himself he came to the Cumbrians land The writer tells us that King Dovenaldus ruled the Cumbrians and that he was Cathroe s kinsman The king escorted Catroe to Loidam Civitatem read as Leeds or Carlisle which is the boundary between the Cumbrians and the Northmen In York Cathroe was welcomed the writer claims by King Eric whose wife was a relative of Cathroe s This is problematic as Eric Bloodaxe is not thought to have ruled York at the time of the journey and Eric s wife Gunnhild was said to be Norwegian 6 Later career editCathroe was abbot of Waulsort for several years until Adelbero Bishop of Metz 7 gave him the administration of St Felix s Abbey in Metz 8 Hagiography editOne Ousmann or Reimann or Erimann wrote a hagiography Notes edit David Dumville St Cathroe of Metz p 172 n 1 VI David Dumville St Cathroe of Metz p 175 n 18 A O Anderson Early sources p lxxiii and 432 n 2 Alan MacQuarrie Catroe who also raises the possibility that the name was Pictish David Dumville St Cathroe of Metz p 172 n 1 Peter E Busse Catroe Cadroe supports a Celtic derivation on the basis of the first element but remains agnostic on this point McGuigan Neil 2021 Mael Coluim III Canmore An Eleventh Century Scottish King John Donald Edinburgh pp 28 amp 427 ISBN 9781910900192 Clare Downham Erik Bloodaxe axed Adelbero I of Bar Adomnan s Vite Columbae and the cult of Colum Cille in continental Europe Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Section C Volume 98 1998References editReimann or Ousmann De S Cadroe abbate ed John Colgan Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae Vol 1 pp 494 ff in part reprinted by W F Skene Chronicles of the Picts Chronicles of the Scots pp 106 116 ed the Bollandists Acta Sanctorum 1865 March 1 473 80 incomplete ed and tr A O Anderson Early Sources of Scottish History A D 500 to 1286 from Colgan s edition pp 495 7 No full translation has appeared to this date Anderson Alan Orr Early Sources of Scottish History A D 500 1286 volume 1 Reprinted with corrections Paul Watkins Stamford 1990 ISBN 1 871615 03 8 Busse Peter E Catroe Cadroe In Celtic Culture A Historical Encyclopedia ed John Koch Vol 1 Santa Barbara 2006 356 Downham Clare Erik Bloodaxe axed The Mystery of the Last Viking King of York Medieval Scandinavia 14 2004 51 77 Dumville D N St Cathroe of Metz and the hagiography of exoticism In Studies in Irish Hagiography Saints and scholars ed John Carey Maire Herbert and Padraig o Riain Dublin 2001 172 88 MacQuarrie Alan The Saints of Scotland Essays in Scottish Church History AD 450 1093 Edinburgh John Donald 1997 ISBN 0 85976 446 X MacQuarrie Alan Catroe 900 01 971 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Accessed 27 Jan 2009 Picard Jean Michel 1998 Adomnan s Vite Columbae and the cult of Colum Cille in continental Europe PDF Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy Section C Volume 98 Archived from the original PDF on 24 April 2005 Retrieved 30 September 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cathroe of Metz amp oldid 1131408022, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
