Magnus

Magnus The Roman Catholic Church commemorates several saints of this name.

1. ST. MAGNUS, Magnoald, Maginald, Mangold, of whom we possess two biographical notices, one by Perth, ii, according to which he was an Alleman by birth, and became the pupil, companion, and successor of St. Gall in the convent of that name. The other, to be found in the Bollandists, Sept. 3:700 sq., states that he was a native of Ireland, built the convent of Fissen after the destruction of St. Gall, converted the inhabitants of Augsburg and surrounding parts, and finally died about 655. He is commemorated Sept. 6. See Koch-Stermfeld, Der h. Mangold in Oberschwaben (Passau, 1825); F. B. Tafrathshofer, Der h. Magnus (Kempten, 1842); F. W. Rettberg, Kirchengesch. Deutschlands, 2:148 sq.; Friedrich, Kirchengesch. Deutschlands (Bamb. 1868), ii (see Index); J. H. Kurtz, Handbuch d. allg. K. Gesch. 2:1, p. 115 sq.

2. ST. MAGNUS, the apostle of the Orkneys. The inhabitants of these islands possessed a large goblet which he is said to have drained: it was offered at once to every new bishop as he arrived, and it was considered a happy omen if he emptied it.

3. ST. MAGNUS, of Altinum, in Venicia, became bishop of Odessa about 638; transmitted his episcopal charge to Heraclea, and died about 660. He is commemorated Oct. 6.

4. ST. MAGNUS flourished in the early half of the 6th century, as bishop of Milan (522-529). He is commemorated Nov. 5. — Herzog, Real- Encyklop. 8:687; Pierer, Univ. Lex. 10:718. (J. N. P.)