SAINT JUDICAËL I., KING

SAINT JUDICAËL I., KING - 6 MARCH

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.

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog