On March 10 we commemorate an Irish saint who is patron of Vissenaken in Brabant and who flourished in the eighth or ninth century. Canon O’Hanlon takes up his story:

Among the many holy Irishmen, who made their way to foreign countries in past ages, Hymelin or Himelinus was distinguished, and we have his Acts recorded, at the 10th of March, in Colgan. These are taken from an account of Father Heribert Rosweyde, and from a Life, founded on notices in the Martyrologies, and from popular traditions, by John Gillemann, and written about 1480. The Belgian writers, Jean Ver Meulen, or John Molanus, and Autbertus Miraeus, have recorded St. Himelin. The Bollandists have inserted his Acts, at the same date, as found in Gilleman’s work; Saussay, Willot, and Ferrarius, note him in their Calendars.

It is related, that not only was Hymaelin a Scot, or an Irishman, but that he was also related to the celebrated St Rumold, the Apostle of Belgium. In like manner was he assimilated by virtues and merits. He appears to have been desirous of following Rumold, to the country of his adoption. Little regarding his early life is known. We are told, however, that he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, to visit the shrines of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul. He returned, afterwards, through the province of Brabant, at a time, too, when Pepin ruled over France. Being greatly fatigued and very thirsty, he stopped on the way near Vissenacken. Here he was seized with a violent fever. He sank exhausted on a bank, and he seemed pale and worn to extremity, when a girl passed by, while bearing water in a pitcher from a neighbouring fountain. This she brought as a household supply for her master, who is called Deculus, a Priest, and who was curate of that place. As a plague was then raging, she had received strict orders from her master, to let no person touch the pitcher, for he feared infection. Hymelin asked for a drink of the water, as she passed, but the girl refused to give it, excusing herself, owing to the strict orders she received. Again, the sick traveller languidly repeated his request, when the girl answered, “My friend, I cannot at all give you water from the pitcher, because of the injunction I received from my master ; yet, I beseech you to visit our house, and there you shall be refreshed, not only with drink, which you need sorely, but with abundance of food.” This invitation Hymelin refused, but he said confidentially to the woman, “Daughter, have trust, and give what I ask for; the Almighty shall be satisfied with your action.” She was moved to compassion, and he drank from the vessel. Then was the pilgrim able to continue his journey. The servant brought the water he had tasted to her master’s house. Some of it was presented, for his use ; but, on drinking, he found it had the taste of wine. Enquiring from the girl, she confessed what had occurred, and owned her disobedience to the curate’s orders. The priest was not displeased, however, but he instantly ran after the unknown holy pilgrim. The latter was overtaken, and conducted to the curate’s home, where he received a hospitable welcome and refreshment. Yet, Hymelin refused the luxury of a comfortable bed, or any other comforts; but, he expressed a wish, to lie down on some straw in a barn. There he rested for three days. His hour for departing this world had now come; and, requesting the favour from the curate’s hands, he received the last Sacraments of the Church. Lying all alone, his happy spirit passed away to the guardianship of his Creator. No sooner had he departed, than all the bells around began to toll of their own accord, and without a hand touching them. This was a subject of great astonishment for the people. The curate was the first to divine the cause, and he invited his parishioners to enter the barn, where Hymelin’s corpse lay. There they saw his face and body, surrounded with a radiant light. Deeming him to be a true saint, they began to consider where his remains should be deposited.

Going into the village church, they found a tomb, corresponding with the size of the pilgrim’s body, and miraculously prepared for its reception. Citing the authority of John Molanus, we are told by Dempster, that neither by the Roman Pontiff, nor by the bishop of the place, had Himelin been enrolled among the saints ; and, yet, his miracles made him celebrated, and his dedicated temples were frequented, by the people. In Convaeus’ list of Irish Saints, for the 10th of March, he notices St. Himilius, a nobleman. The name is written Himelinus, in the anonymous list, at the same day. In Henry Fitzsimons’ list—apparently through mistake—and on the authority of Molanus, his feast is set down, at the 20th of March. The Manuscript Florarius, Canisius, and Molanus, in his edition of Usuard, have his feast, at the 10th. In Adam King’s Kalendar, at the same day in March, we have entered S. Hemelin, confess, scotisma vnder king dungallus. In like manner, Dempster’s and Camerarius record Himelin, he having been revered as Confessor, in Vissenaken. Thither were the sacred remains brought and honourably interred, in a crypt, under the campanile. In after time, several miracles were wrought, through the merits of Hymelin, who is regarded as the patron saint of Vissenaeken. On the 10th of March—probably the date for his death—a great concourse of the parishioners and of pilgrims is annually attracted to his tomb. On the altar his image was visible.

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Today’s saint, Tanco (Tanchon, Tatta) is unusual in that he is not commemorated on the Irish calendars but on the foreign martyrologies. He is one of the many Irish missionary saints who laboured in continental Europe and was martyred in Verden in Saxony early in the ninth century. Canon O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints takes up his story:

ST. TANCHON, OR TANCO, MARTYR AND THIRD BISHOP OF VERDEN, IN SAXONY.

[EIGHTH AND NINTH CENTURIES.]

IT has been truly remarked, that the names of many Irish saints and scholars are enshrined in the records of foreign nations, when they are forgotten, or but faintly remembered, in their own country. Such was the case, with regard to the present zealous missionary, and holy martyr, who is not even recorded in the pages of our native Calendarists, although noted in foreign Martyrologies. It must be observed, that Albert Crantzius was one of the first writers, who has left us any authentic particulars, regarding this saint. From his history, most subsequent writers derived their notices of St. Tanco. At the 16th of February, Colgan and the Bollandists give short Acts for this saint, such as they had been enabled to collect, especially from Krantz, and from various other authorities.

The ancient territory of Lower Saxony had been intersected by the river, formerly called Visurgis, now known as the Weser, which passes through Bremen, and falls into the North Sea. Westward of this river, the country was denominated Westphalia, and eastward, it was known as Eastphalia. In the former division, Charlemagne had founded the episcopal see of Verden. Suitbert and Patto, both of whom came from Ireland, were its two first bishops and St. Tanco is classed as the third. He is called a Scot, which designation most usually signifies, that the place of nativity must have been Ireland, when not expressly stated, that any person, thus indicated, had been a Scot from Scotia Minor, or from Albania, now known as Scotland. Colgan was of opinion, that this saint and his other colleagues, who preached the faith in Saxony, were Irish Scots, by birth. However, in what part of Ireland, St. Tanco was born, is unknown ; but, he is said to have been of noble birth.

Moved by missionary zeal, like many others of his countrymen, he left the island of his birth, to spread the Christian faith amongst strangers. He travelled to Saxony. There is said to have been another Tanco, a monk of St. Gall, who must be distinguished from the present holy martyr. St. Patto had vacated the office of abbot, over a monastery, named Amarbaric, near Verden. This establishment, founded for the use of Scottish or Irish monks, is mistaken by Colgan, for the Irish Armagh, on account of a supposed similarity between these names ; he thinking, that Amarbaricensis was intended for Armachanensis. As he found no other monastery, having the former name, in either Ireland or Scotland, where he supposed it must be situated, he thus conjectured, this latter famous primatial city might have been meant. The pious Tanchon succeeded this saint, as Abbot of Amarbaric, and on Patto’s death, he likewise became Bishop of Verden. This is referred to the year 760, or thereabouts, by Arnold Wion. However, this appears too early a date, as it precedes even the erection of Verden into an episcopal see, according to the most authentic accounts. Tanco, who is also called Tatta, served God many years in Amarbarica Abbey, in great reputation for his singular learning and piety. He was raised, it is said, to the dignity of abbot. Through an ardent thirst after martyrdom, he resigned this charge. The holy missioner Tanchon was animated with a hope of shedding his blood for the sake of his Divine Master. Being desirous of reclaiming the morals of the Saxon people, he fearlessly applied himself towards this task and, he is said, by the writer already named, to have received a crown of martyrdom at their hands. He ascended gloriously to Heaven, on the xiv. day of the Kalends of March, or the 16th of February, about the year of our Lord 800.

Arnold Wion and the English Martyrology state, that our saint suffered about this time. The latter authority says, that after being appointed Abbot of Amarbaric, St. Tancho, feeling a desire to effect the salvation of souls in neighbouring provinces, went first to Flanders, and afterwards to Cleves,(now the chief city of that duchy near the Rhine in Germany), where he was created Bishop of Verden. However, Colgan shows, that he was not pastor over the church so called, in the Duchy of Cleeves, near the Rhine; but, rather, at the Aller, which flows into the Weser. The Jesuit Father, Henry Fitzsimon, on the authority of the English Martyrology, records St. Tancon, a bishop and martyr, on his list of Irish Saints. An anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints has his festival at the 16th of February. Camerarius has the 16th of this month. Ferrarius, Wion, Menard and the English Martyrology, all are agreed. Again, some writers refer the date for his martyrdom, to A.D. 815 and to 820. The exact place, in which his victorious crown was obtained, is not known; but, writers are agreed in stating, that on this day, his memory is venerated at Verden, in Saxony. There his remains are now said to repose… His dalmatic was long preserved, as a precious relic, in the church of Verden. Tanco is said to have been a holy man, a diligent observer of ecclesiastical decorum; a man who left a great reputation behind him for learning, but a still greater for sanctity.

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