Guthago

Who they were

Gutagono was the son of a royal family of Ireland; despite family resistance he made a pilgrimage to Rome, and there decided to abandon worldly life and dedicate himself entirely to prayer. He then settled as a recluse at Oostkerke near Bruges in Flanders, living in a small cell attached to the local church, given to fasting, vigils and prayer.

He died there in the odour of sanctity, and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage credited with many miracles. In 1059 Gerard, bishop of Tournai, solemnly raised his relics, formally confirming his veneration; his feast, 3 July, marks the anniversary of that translation.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as blessed since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Irish king's son turned recluse near Bruges; his relics were solemnly raised by the bishop of Tournai in 1059 after many miracles at his tomb.