SAINT JUDICAËL I., KING - 6 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 6th of March

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SAINT JUDICAËL I., KING

Saint Judicaël (Judicaël I. Rex), also called Judaellus, Judhael, Gilquellus, and in French Juel, Giguel, Guquel or Guiguel, was king of Brittany (Armorica or Britannia minor). According to Pierer* (XV. 330), he was the elder son of Hoël III, Earl of Cornwallis, but gave the throne of Brittany to his younger brother Solomon and became a monk in 612. When his brother died without heirs, he once more took over the government (in 632), but returned to the monastery in 638 and died there in 658.

According to Bucelin*, however, he had 20 children, 16 sons and 4 daughters, by his godly wife Britela, all of whom distinguished themselves in virtue and piety. Probably Saint Euriela is a daughter of his. Tired of government, he abdicated the throne in favour of his eldest son of the same name (Judicaël), and became a Benedictine at the monastery of Saint Maianus or Mainus (Saint Méen). There he led a perfectly virtuous life until his death, which took place after the year 660.

According to Migne* (Dict. icon. 696) he is shown laying down the crown to receive the monastic habit. In his humility, he takes over services in the kitchen. There it is also noted that, according to some hagiographers, he is venerated on March 6. 

The Bollandists*, too, mention him on March 6 (I. 420), but with the remark that the monastery of Saint Maianus celebrates his feast day on December 16, on which day Bucelin* lists the son of our saint, Judicaël II. The latter also occurs in Pierer*, but as the son of Count Gurvand of Rennes, who reigned from 877-888.

Last but not least, Butler*, on December 16 (18.345), specifies only one Saint Judicaël "Prince of Domnonium in Britain", who succeeded his father Judhaël in princedom and died in the middle of the 7th century. Migne*, too, indicates just one Judicaël. It is not up to us to decide which of the above statements is correct.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, pp. 499-500)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Judicaël 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.