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CUTHBERT

order with restricted powers and subject to their re- spective provincials. It is in this latter sense that he refers (Rule, VIII) to the cuslodes as having power, conjointly with the provincials, to elect and to depose the minister general.

The convents over which a custos (in this latter sense) presided were collectively called a custodia. The number of custodies in a province varied accord- ing to its extent. Already at an early period it was deemed expedient that only one of the several cus- todes of a province should proceed to the general chap- ter with his respective provincial for the election of the minister general, although the rule accorded the right of vote to each custos. This custom was sanc- tioned by Gregory IX in 1230 (" Quo elongati ", Bull. Rom., Ill, 450, Turin ecUtion) and by other popes, evidently with the view to prevent unnecessary ex- pense. The custos thus chosen was called Custos custodum, or, among the Oliservantines until the time of Leo X ("Ite et vos ", Bull. Rom., V, 694), discretus discretorum. This ancient legislation, which has long since ceased in the Order of Friars Minor, still obtains in the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals, as may be seen from their constitutions confirmed by Urban VIII (see below). The present-day legislation on the point among the Capuchins and Friars Minor may be briefly summed up as follows: In the Capuchin Order there are two kinds of custodes — custodes general and custodes provincial. Two custodes general are elected every three years at the provincial chapters. The first of these has a right to vote at the election of the minister general should a general chapter be held during his term of office. Besides, he has the obliga- tion of presenting to the general chapter an official report on the state of his province. The provin- cial custodes, on the contrary, have no voice in the general chapters, and their rights and duties are nuich restricted and unimportant. In the constitu- tions of the Order of Friars Minor there is also men- tion of two kinds of custodes — one called custos pro- vinriw, the other custos regiminis. The former is elected at the provincial chapter and holds office for three years. Besides having a voice in all capitular acts of his province he takes part in the general chap- ter, should his provincial be impeded. The custos regiminis is a prelate who rules over a custody, or small province. He possesses ordinary jurisdiction and has all the rights and privileges of a provincial. The number of convents in a custodia regiminis ranges from four to eight.

Kerchove, CommerUarim in Geiicralia Slatula Ordinis S. Francisci Fratr. Minorum (Ghent, 1770), VIII, 11; Piatos, Prcel. Jur. Regularis, I, 644 sqq.; Clement IV, Virtule con- stticuos (1265) in Bullar. Ram. (Turin edition), III, 737; Innocent IV. Ordinem Vestrum in Bullar. Francisc, I, 401; Leo X, Ite et vos in Bullar. Rom., V, 694; Regulw ct Const. Generates FF. Minorum (Rome, 1897), VIII, pasisim; Constil. Urbance FF. Minorum Convenlualium (Mechlin), VIII, tit. De Custode Cws'odum: Constil. Ordinis Min. Cap. anni 161,3 (Tournai, 1876), VIII: Ordinationes et Dedsiones Capitul, Generalium Ord. Cap. (Rome, 1851).

Gregory Cleary.

Cuthbert, Saint, Bishop of Lindisfame, patron of Durham, b. about 63.5; d. 20 March, 687. His emblem is the head of St. Oswald, king and martyr, which he is represented as bearing in his hands. His feast is kept in Great Britain andlreland on the 20th of March, and he is patron of the Diocese of Hexham and New- castle, where his commemoration is inserted among the Suffrages of the Saints. His early biographers give no particulars of his birth, and the accoimts in the "Libellus de ortu", which represent him as the son of an Iri.sh king n.anird Muriadach, though re- cently supported by Cardinal Moran and Archbishop Healy, are rejected by later English writers as legen- dary. Moreover St. Bede's phrase, Hril<inni(i . . . genuil (Vita Metriea, c. i)., points to his Knglish birth. He was proljably born in the neighbourhood of Mail- ros (Melrose) of lowly parentage, for as a boy ho used

to tend sheep on the mountain-sides near that mon- astery. While still a cliild living with his foster- mother Kenswith his future lot as bishop had been foretold by a little play-fellow, whose prophecy had a lasting effect on his character. He was influenced,'] too, by the holiness of the community at Mailros,! where St. Eata was abbot and St. Boisil prior. In; the year 6,51, while watching his sheep, he saw in a! vision the soul of St. Aidan carried to heaven by angels, and inspired by this became a monk at Mail- ros. Yet it would seem that the troubled state of the country hindered him from carrvdng out his resolution at once. Certain it is that at one part of his life he was a soldier, and the years which succeed the death of St. Aidan and Oswin of Deira seem to have been such as would call for the military service of most of the able-bodied men of Northumbria, which was constantly threatened at this time by the ambition of its southern neighbour, King Penda of Mercia. Peace was not restored to the land until some four years later, as the consequence of a great battle which was fought between the Northumbrians and the Mercians at Winwidfield. It was probably after this battle that Cuthbert found hitnself free to turn once more to the life he desired. He arrived at Mailros on horse-back and armed with a spear. Here he soon became eminent for holiness and learn- ing, while from the first his life was distinguished by supernatural occurrences and miracles. When the monastery at Ripon was founded he went there as guest-master, but in 661 he, with other monks who adhered to the customs of Celtic Christianity, re- turned to Mailros owing to the adoption at Ripon of the Roman Usage in celebrating Easter and in other matters. Shortly after his return lie was struck by a pestilence which then attacked the community, but he recovered, and became prior in place of St. Boisil, who died of the disea.se in 664. In this year the Synod of Whitby decided in favour of the Roman Usage, and St. ("uthbert, who accepted the decision, was sent by St. Eata to be prior at Lindisfame, in order that he might introduce the Roman customs into that house. This was a difficult matter which needed all his gentle tact and patience to carry out successfully, but the fact that one so renowned for sanctity, who had him- self been brought up in the Celtic tradition, was loy- ally conforming to the Roman use, did much to sup- port the cause of St. Wilfrid. In this matter St. Cuth-l bert's influence on his time was very marked. At' Lindisfame he spent much time in evangelizing the people. He was notcil for his devotion to the Mass,, which he could not eeleljrate without tears, and for the success with which his zealous charity drew sin-i ners to God.

At length, in 676, moved by a desire to attain; greater perfection by means of the contemplative.' life, he retired, with the abbot's leave, to a spot whicht Archbishop Eyre identifies with St. Cuthbert's" Island; near Lindisfame, but which Raine thinks was near. Howburn, where "St. Cuthbert's Cave" is still shown Shortly afterwards he removed to Fame Island, oppo- site Bamborough in Northumberland, where he gave j, himself up to a life of great austerity. After some years he was called from this retirement by a synod of bishops held at Twyford in Northmuberland, imder St. Tlieodore, Archl)ishop of Canterlmrj'. At tlii meeting he was elected Bishop of Lindisfame. a.-; St I'^ata was now translated to Hexham. For a Inns time he withstood all pressure and only yieldeil aftei a long struggle. He was consecrated at York by Theodore in the ijresence of six bishops, at Eu; G85. For two years he acted as bi.shop, prcacliing and labouring without intermission, with wonilerf suits. At Christinas, 6S6, foreseeing the near af>- proach of death, he resigned his see and returm his cell on Fame Lsland, Avhcre two months later he was seized with a fatal illness In his last days, ir

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