ivine assistance, which was
evidenced by numerous miracles. Among the saints of Scotland he takes
a foremost rank, and in Catholic ages devotion to him was widespread.
The churches dedicated to him are too numerous to mention. He himself
founded no less than fifty during his residence in the land which he
had chosen as the scene of his labours. Annual fairs were held on his
feast at Aberdour (Fife), Dunkeld each for eight days Drymen
(Stirlingshire), Largs (Argyllshire), and Fort-Augustus
(Inverness-shire). St. Columba's holy wells were very numerous, for
an old Irish record relates of him: "He blessed three hundred wells
which were constant." In Scotland they are to be traced at Birse
(Aberdeenshire), Alvah and Portsoy (Banffshire), Invermoriston
(Inverness-shire), Calaverock (Forfarshire), Cambusnethan
(Lanarkshire), Alness (Ross-shire), Kirkholm (Wigtonshire), and on
the islands of Garvelloch, Eigg and Iona.

St. Baitan or Baithen, Abbot, A.D. 600.

He was cousin to St. Columba, and accompanied him from Ireland to
Scotland. From {92} his childhood he had been that saint's disciple
and companion, and St. Columba had a special affection for him. He
was appointed superior of the monastery established in Tiree, but at
St. Columba's death succeeded him as Abbot of Iona. There he remained
only four years, death calling him away, as he had previously
foretold to his monks, on the anniversary of their father and
founder. St. Baitan was buried in St. Oran's Chapel on Iona. His bell
was still preserved in Donegal up to a few years since, and it was a
common practice of devotion to drink from it. In the same district is
St. Baitan's River, to which flocks and herds were brought to drink
on the saint's festival.

St. Baitan is said to have spent his time either in reading, praying,
or serving his neighbour. Even during meals he used constantly to
implore the Divine aid in the words of the Psalmist: "O God, come to
my assistance." During labour his mind was always raised to God. So
mortified was he that it was said that the impression of his ribs
through his woollen tunic used to mark the sandy beach of Iona when
he lay down to rest himself there. {93}

12--St. Ternan, Bishop, A.D. 431.

This saint was born in the Mearns of noble parents. St. Palladius,
who evangelised that district, is said to have been directed to
the child by an angel, in order that he might ad minister baptism.
Ternan grew up to manhood, embraced the c