32 CANDLEMAS TIDE. 



FEB. 1. St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, m. a.d.107. 

 St. Pionius, priest and martyr. 

 St. Bridget, virgin abbess. 

 St. Kinnia, virgin of Ireland. 

 St. Siegebert, king of Austrasia C. 



Lucaria — Junoni Sopitae. — i \x\\di\i Cal. 



Obs. St. Ignatius, who was also siirnamed Theophorus, was a 

 lealous convert and int:ma;c disciple of St. John the Evangelist, 

 lie assisted St. Peter and St. Paul to establish the Christian faith at 

 Antioch in the first age. lie submitted to martj'rdom in the reign 

 of Trajan, for declaring that he carried the crucified Christ about 

 him. He was destroyed i y wild beasts in the amphitheatre. A 

 long and instructive history of St. Ignatius is to be found in Butler's 

 Lives, vol. ii. p. 1. He leit beiiind him seven Epistles, well known 

 to all theological critics for their beauty and simplicity. 



St. Bridget, otherwise called St. Bride, is considered as the 

 Patroness of Ireland, and was born at Fochard in Ulster, in the 

 beginning of the sixth century. 



Lesser Water Moss Fontinalis minor fructifies. 

 Bav Lauras nobilis. 



The Bay is recorded today, and has been called the Shrub oi 

 St. Bride, but we cannot find why, as it does not flower at this 

 time. 



An occasional Primrose flowering on a warm bank is found in 

 mild springs about this time, but the general flowering is in March 

 and April, when these simple but elegant flowers adorn every bank 

 and brae. 



The Snowdrop often peeps out of the ground on Candlemas Eve, 

 or even earlier, and was hence called Our Lady of February, and 

 afterwards Fair INIaid of February, or Purification Flower. The 

 French call it La Pierce Niege, La Cloche Blanche, La Galantine 

 Baguenardia d'Hyver. The Italians call it Galanto. 



In the Florilegium it is said, " Even as the Snowdrop is whiter 

 and clearer than all other flowers, so is the spotless purity of Our 

 Lady fairer than that of all other virgins." Florilegium, Asp. ii. 2. 

 The "following verses of IMrs. Barbauld are very expressive : 

 Already now the Snowdrop dares appear. 

 The first pale blossom of tlic unripened year; ^ 



As Flora's breath, by some transforming power, 

 Had changed an icicle into a flower : 

 Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, 

 And Winter lingers in its icy veins. 



