ST AGILUS, ABBOT - 30 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 30th of August

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ST AGILUS, ABBOT  

Saint Agilus (St Aile) was son of Agnoald, one of the principal lords at the court of Childebert II, king of Austrasia and Burgundy. The examples of virtue, which he found in his family, inspired him early with the fear of God. 

HE STUDIED UNDER THE HOLY ABBOT EUSTASIUS

His parents, by the advice of St Columban, consecrated him to religion in the monastery of Luxeuil, where he studied knowledge, and the maxims of perfection, under the holy abbot St Eustasius; and was no sooner of age to practise the rule than he distinguished himself by his fervour, his humility, and the austerity of his penance. 

Agil’s father dying, St Columban, now without a protector at court, lay open to a violent persecution from Queen Brunehault [Brunhilda], enraged against the saint for refusing women an entrance into his monastery. 

QUEEN BRUNEHAULT'S GRUDGE

The persecution extended also to his disciples, who were commanded to quit their retreats. St Agil on this occasion solicited an audience of King Thierri. He was graciously received; at his suit a stop was put to the ill effects of Brunehault’s animosity; and the statute of St Columban’s rule regarding women was confirmed. 

Some years after, the bishops sent to St Agil and St Eustasius to preach the gospel to infidels who lived on the further side of Mount-Jura. 

THEIR MISSION WAS ATTENDED WITH THE HAPPIEST SUCCESS

The two apostolical men penetrated into Bavaria; and their mission was attended with the happiest success. 

At their return, St Agil resumed his penitential exercises with the usual exactness; but was soon taken out of his retreat to govern the monastery of Rebais, which St Owen, chancellor of France, had founded in the diocese of Meaux. 

HE IS MENTIONED IN THE BENEDICTINE MARTYROLOGY

He was appointed first abbot of it at a meeting of bishops in Clichy, in 636. 

The saint caused the strictest regularity to be observed at Rebais, till he died, about the year 650, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He is mentioned in the Benedictine Martyrology. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)