ST SAMPSON, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR - 28 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 28th of July

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SAINT SAMPSON, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR 

Saint Sampson [Samson] was a child of prayer, and was born about the year 496, of noble parentage, in that part of South Wales which is now called Glamorganshire, then in the country of the Demetes, upon the borders of the Wenetes, who inhabited the province called by the Britons Guent, now Monmouthshire. 

UNDER THE CARE OF ST ILTUTUS

At seven years of age he was put under the care of St Iltutus, a very learned abbot in Glamorganshire, and having made great progress in learning and virtue, was ordained priest by St Dubritius, bishop of Caerleon. 

In 512 he passed into a neighbouring island, where he led an eremitical life, as did several others, under the direction of St Piro, a holy priest. 

HE PAID A VISIT TO HIS AGED FATHER

By an order of SS. Dubritius and Iltutus he paid a visit to his aged father who lay dangerously ill. The saint restored him by his prayers to his health, and converted him and his whole numerous family, including his uncles, cousins, and brothers, whom he placed in several monasteries, but his father and an uncle of his own community of hermits. 

THE VOYAGE INTO IRELAND

In 516 he made a voyage into Ireland, to animate himself to fervour by the example and instructions of many illustrious saints who flourished there, and after his return shut himself up in a cave in a wilderness. 

HE WAS ORDAINED BISHOP

In 520 St Dubritius called him to a synod at Caerleon, and in it ordained him bishop without being fixed in any particular see. 

HE CONTINUED HIS FORMER AUSTERE MANNER OF LIFE

St Sampson continued his former austere manner of life, abstaining wholly from flesh, sometimes eating only once in two or three days, and often passing the whole night in prayer standing, though sometimes when he watched the night he took a little rest, leaning his head against a wall. 

HE WENT TO BRITTANY

To gain souls to God by the exercise of the ministry with which he saw himself entrusted, he passed over into Brittany in France, with his father and his cousin St Magloire, and was followed by St Maclou or Malo, another cousin. St Sampson there converted many idolaters, raised a dead man to life, and wrought many other miracles. He founded a great abbey, which he called Dole, and fixed there the episcopal see which was before subject to Quidalet, now St Malo’s. This see of Dole long enjoyed a metropolitical jurisdiction over all the bishops of Brittany. 

HE USED TO HAVE A CROSS CARRIED BEFORE HIM

He subscribed to the second council of Paris, held in 557, in the manner following: "I Sampson, a sinner, bishop, have consented and subscribed." He used to have a cross carried before him, as is the custom of archbishops at present. 

He died about the year 564. A considerable part of his relics was translated to Paris, with those of St Magloire and St Maclou, in the tenth century, for fear of the inroads of the Normans.

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 📷 1. St Sam(p)son, 2. The Abbey Church at Milton Abbas, Dorset, dedicated to St Mary, St Samson and St Branwalader [Branwallader])

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Sampson may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. 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.