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A Key to the Calendar: Quintilis
This month, originally named Quintilis, or fifth, derives its name from Julius Cæsar, who was born on the 12th of the month, originally called Quintilis, it having been the fifth month in the original Latin year, which began with March. The change of name was proposed by Mark Antony, and easily carried in the days of the great Julius. This is the month of "Dog days," usually reckoned as beginning on the 3d of July and ending about the 11th of August. These days were so called from the star Sirius, or the dog star, in the constellation of Canis Major, to which the extreme heat of midsummer was superstitiously attributed. During these oppressively hot days it was also supposed that dogs are more likely to run mad than at other seasons. 2. Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This festival was instituted by Pope
Urban the VI. in commemoration of the journey which the Virgin Mary took to the hill country of Judea, in order to visit her cousin Elizabeth, mother of
John the Baptist. The feast was instituted 1389, and confirmed at the Council of Basle in 1431, "in order that the Blessed Virgin, being honored with this solemnity, might by her intercession reconcile her Son, who is now angry for the sins of men, and that she might grant peace and amity among the faithful." 4. Translation of St. Martin's relics from their humble resting-place to the noble cathedral at Tours, A. D. 473. 15. St. Swithin's Day. "If on St. Swithin's day it prove fair, a temperate winter will follow; but if rainy, stormy, or windy, then the contrary." So says the author of the "Shepherd's Kalendar." That it should rain for forty days after a wet St. Swithin appears to have been an article of popular belief, even in Anglo- Saxon times. The legend of the day is that the saint, who died in 868, desired to be buried in the open churchyard, not in the chapel of the minster, as was usual with bishops; this desire was complied with; but on his being canonized, the monks, thinking it disgraceful for the saint to lie in the open cemetery, determined to remove his body into the choir. This was attempted with solemn procession on the 15th of July; it rained, however, so violently for forty days together that the design was abandoned. The monks, finding it vain to contend with one who had the elements so entirely under his control, like discreet and prudent men let him have his own way; he, to show his opinion of their conduct, and to warn others against interfering with the wishes of the dead, still continues the forty days' rain. Unfortunately for the truth of the legend, the saint's relics were in 971 translated by St. Athelwold to a shrine, and in 1094 retranslated to
Winchester Cathedral by Bishop Walkelin. 20. St. Margaret was one of the most popular saints in England, no fewer than 238
English churches being dedicated to her. She was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch, but was educated as a Christian. She refused to marry a
Roman governor, and in consequence was exposed to the most dreadful tortures, and at last beheaded, A. D. 278. 22. St. Mary Magdalene is believed to have been the sinner to whom much had been forgiven and the saint who loved much. She was the most constant of all our Lord's followers. After the ascension she is said to have lived for some time in Judea, and then to have retired to Ephesus, where she resided with the Virgin Mary. Painters have represented her as a lovely woman in a large number of repentant attitudes, some of them being only such as unrepentant "Magdalenes" could be induced to assume. 25. St. James, surnamed the Great, apostle and martyr. He was originally a fisherman, brother of St. John; he is the patron saint of Spain, where, after the death of his Master, he is said to have preached the Gospel. On his return to
Jerusalem he received the crown of martyrdom, being beheaded by order of
Herod the Great, A. D. 43. He was the first martyred of all the apostles, and is regarded as the patron of pilgrims. 26. St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, was daughter of Matthew the priest and
Mary his wife; she married Joachim, and after twenty years was made happy by the birth of a daughter, who has been called "blessed" by all generations. AUGUST.