Background
While legend claims that he was the son of a Scottish king, other legends place his birth in Ireland.
While legend claims that he was the son of a Scottish king, other legends place his birth in Ireland.
Though his legend states that he died in the 2nd century, it is likely that his story has been conflated with other saints of the same name, especially Beatus of Vendôme, and an Abbot Beatus who received a charter in 810 from Charlemagne to confirm that Honau Abbey would be administered by Irish monks. Beatus was a convert, baptized in England by Saint Barnabas. He was allegedly ordained a priest in Rome by Saint Peter the Apostle, whereupon he was sent with a companion named Achates to evangelize the tribe of the Helvetii.
The two set up a camp in Argovia near the Jura Mountains, where they converted many of the locals.
Beatus then ventured south to the mountains above Lake Thun, taking up a hermitage in what is now known as Saint Beatus Caves, near the village of Beatenberg, probably in the ninth century. Tradition states that this cave is where he fought a dragon.
Saint Beatus" grave is located between the monastery and the cave entrance. He died at an old age in 112.
An Augustinian monastery was established near the mouth of the Saint Beatus Caves.
Today, approximately one kilometer of the cave system has been opened and illuminated for tourist access. The monastery site now also houses a restaurant and gift shop for the convenience of tourists. Beatus is primarily remembered as the first apostle to Switzerland.
The mountain where he resided until his death is still a place of pilgrimage, and bears his name: Beatenberg.
The earliest recorded accounts of Saint Beatus" life date no earlier than the 10th and mid-11th centuries and have not been historically authenticated. So, some would hesitate to endorse the tradition that calls Saint Beatus the "Apostle of Switzerland".
Indeed, Saint Gall probably more justly deserves this honor.
