Saint of the Day: St. Gildas “the Wise”

Monk (ca. 500-570)

His life

+ Honored as an imminent teacher and historian, Gilas was born in England and as a young man traveled to Wales. Following the death of his wife, he became a monk at a monastery founded by Saint Illtyd.

+ Toward the end of his life, Gildas made a pilgrimage to Rome and founded a monastery in Brittany, where he died in 570.

+ Known as “the Wise,” Gildas was one of the most important early Welsh saints. His history of the Celtic peoples shows him to have been a learned man who was greatly distressed by the decadence and corruption of the monarchy and Church of his day.

+ Saint Gildas is honored as the patron saint of Brittany.

For prayer and reflection

“Those who keep God’s word with a good and perfect heart patiently bring forth fruit.”—Luke 8:15

Spiritual bonus

On January 29 we also remember Saint Abundantia of Spoleto. She was a Christian widow he cared for those who were suffering persecution because of their faith in Christ, including helping to bury those who had died as martyrs. Because of her faith and selfless service, she was killed around the year 304 during the persecution of Diocletian.

Prayer

O God, who in your kindness called your servant blessed Gildas to the following of Christ, grant, we pray, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may hold fast to you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For a Monk)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.