work in Germany, believing this was God’s will. Changing his name to Boniface, he received a papal commission from Pope Gregory II to evangelise in Germany and began his mission in Hesse in 718. Such was the success of his work that in 722 he was raised to the rank of bishop and given charge of all the German territories. The Pope also secured for him the protection of Charles Martel, leader of the Franks.
With this support Boniface won vast numbers of converts and effectively established the church in Germany, founding many monasteries as centres of education and evangelisation and staffing them with fellow-missionaries from England. He also did much to revive the church in France. He is honoured as the patron saint of brewers and tailors.
Boris (m)
[BO-ris] from Russian, meaning ‘fight’.
Both Russian martyrs (died 1015), Boris and his half-brother Gleb were sons of St Vladimir, the first Christian prince of Russia. After their father’s death their elder brother Svyatopolk decided to kill Boris and Gleb to forestall any challenge to his claim to the throne. Boris and Gleb met their deaths without attempting to resist, refusing to endanger the lives of their servants or to oppose their own flesh and blood. After their demise they were acclaimed as Christian martyrs and they are still revered in Russia and Ukraine.
Botolph (m)
[BO-tolf] uncertain origin.
Seventh-century saint; formerly chaplain to a convent, about 654 he established a monastery at Icanhoh identified either as Iken (Suffolk) or Boston (Lincolnshire).
Variants: Botolf, Botulf.
Brenda see Brendan.
Brendan (m)
[BREN-duhn] from Irish Bréanainn, from a Gaelic word meaning ‘prince’.
Brendan the Voyager (c.486–c.577), Irish abbot. Little definite is known about the life of Brendan beyond the facts that he was born in Kerry, that he was brought up by St Ita at Killeedy and that he founded a monastery at Clonfert in Galway around the year 559. Legend has it that the rule he drew up for use by the monks there was dictated to him by an angel. Other monasteries, such as those at Annadown, Inishdroum and Ardfert, may also have been founded by Brendan.
He is often remembered for the many journeys he made abroad and is said to have visited St Columba in Scotland, where he founded another monastery, to have crossed to Wales, where he served as abbot of a monastery, and to have sailed to Brittany in company with St Malo. He is honoured today as the patron saint of sailors. The feminine form Brenda is thought by some to derive from Brendon, but Brenda is more likely to be a name of an independent origin.
Variant: Brandan.
Brian (m)
[BRY-uhn] perhaps from Irish word for ‘hill’.
Blessed Brian Lacey (died 1591). Born in Yorkshire and cousin and assistant of the Venerable Montford Scott, he was betrayed by his brother Richard for being a Catholic.
Variant: Bryan.
Bridget (f)
[BRIJ-it] from the Irish name Brighid, meaning ‘exalted one’.
The name of two saints: St Bridget Swedish foundress (1303–73). Born in the province of Upland, Sweden, Bridget (or Birgitta) lived as a married woman for 28 years and bore eight children to her wealthy land-owning husband Ulf Godmarsson before his death in 1344. During this time she rose to the rank of principal lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Sweden and in this post did her best to persuade the royal family to give up their immoral way of life. After her husband’s death, in defiance of the turbulence and decadence of the contemporary religious establishment, she founded a monastery for men and women at Vadstena, with herself as abbess, and from this institution evolved the Order of the Holy Saviour (popularly known as the Bridgettines). She became well known not only for her zeal as abbess but also for her prophetic visions, through which she offered guidance to popes and crowned heads. Today she is honoured as the patron saint of Sweden.
Also, the Irish abbess Brigid (c.450–523). Born the daughter of a slave woman and a Celtic chieftain in the vicinity of Dundalk, Brigid (or Bride) was granted her freedom and determined at an early age to pursue a life in the church. In due course she was accepted as a nun by St Mel, Bishop of Armagh, but defied the usual convention of living at home with her family by imitating the example of St Patrick (by whom she may have been baptised) and founding the first convents for nuns in Ireland. The first of her houses (for both men and women) was established at Kildare in 471 and, with Brigid as its first abbess, this soon became an important religious and academic centre. It also became famous for fine religious ornaments and manuscripts. Many other convents followed throughout Ireland. Brigid herself was celebrated both for her leadership skills and for her generosity towards the needy. Today she is honoured as the patron saint of Irish women, poets, blacksmiths and healers.
Variants: Biddy, Birgitta, Bride, Bridie, Brigid, Brigitta.
Bruno (m)
[BREW-noh] from Germanic ‘brown’.
German founder (c.1033–1101). Born into a noble family of Cologne, he studied at the cathedral school in Rheims before being ordained a priest and taking up a post teaching theology in Rheims around 1056. He remained in this post for 20 years but then incurred the disfavour of his archbishop, whom he accused of simony. Discharged from his office, Bruno and six companions retreated to the mountains near Grenoble and at a location called the Grande Chartreuse erected a modest church that in due course became the first home of the so-called Carthusian monks. From these humble beginnings grew the entire Carthusian order, which placed emphasis upon solitude, fasting, worship, hard work and repentance.
Bryce (m)
[brys] of uncertain origin.
French bishop (died 444), who was born in Touraine and studied for the church under St Martin of Tours at the monastery of Marmoutier, he eventually succeeded Martin as bishop of Tours in 397. He appears to have had an unruly nature, having to apologise to Martin for rash words on at least two occasions and as bishop being obliged to vacate his see around 430 and go into exile for some seven years after he was accused of various omissions and misdeeds. After going to Rome and gaining vindication from the Pope he returned to his post a reformed man and dedicated himself to his work, founding several new religious establishments.
Variant: Brice.
Caedmon (m)
[KAD-muhn] meaning unknown.
English poet (died c.680). According to Bede, Caedmon was a cowherd who lived near the great abbey at Whitby. During a dream one night he was miraculously endowed with a divine poetic gift and was inspired to compose a song in praise of God’s creation. This he subsequently performed in front of St Hilda and the monks of the abbey. Suitably impressed, they invited Caedmon to take up religious study and to join them as a monk. He went on to compose various songs based upon the Scriptures and in so doing established a lasting reputation as the first great English poet and the father of English sacred poetry.
Caesar (m)
[SEE-zuh] possibly from Latin caesaries, meaning ‘hair’.
The title of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Nero. Those mentioned in the New Testament are Augustus (27 BC–AD 14; Luke 2:1), Tiberius (AD 14–37; Luke 3:1), and Claudius (AD 41–54; Acts 11:28), though Nero (AD 54–68) and his persecution of Christians also cast his shadow over the early church.
Cain (m)
[kayn] from Hebrew, meaning ‘acquired’.
Adam and Eve’s eldest son who murdered his brother Abel. He became a wanderer, but God placed a mark on him for his protection (Genesis 4).