ST DEICOLUS, ABBOT - 18 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 18th of January

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST DEICOLUS, ABBOT, NATIVE OF IRELAND

[In Irish Dichul, called by the French, St Deel, or Diey.]  

Saint Deicolus quitted Ireland, his native country, with St Columban, and lived with him, first in the kingdom of the East Angles, and afterwards at Luxeuil; but when his master quitted France, he founded the abbey of Lutra, or Lure, in the diocese of Besançon, which was much enriched by king Clothaire II. 

JOY AND PEACE OF SOUL

Amidst his austerities, the joy and peace of his soul appeared in his countenance. St Columban once said to him in his youth: “Deicolus, why are you always smiling?” He answered in simplicity: “Because no one can take my God from me.” 

"NO ONE CAN TAKE GOD FROM ME"

He died in the seventh century. By moderns, this saint is called Deicola; but in ancient MSS. Deicolus. In Franche-comté his name Deel is frequently given in baptism, and Deele to persons of the female sex.   

 ABOUT THE ABBEY

Note 1. The abbot of Lure was formerly a prince of the empire. At present the abbey is united to that of Morbac in Alsace. Lure is situated three leagues from Luxeuil, which stands near Mount Vosge, two leagues from Lorraine towards the south.

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)