SAINT TUDWAL, BISHOP OF TRECOR - 30 NOVEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 30th of November

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SAINT TUDWAL, BISHOP OF TRECOR

Saint Tudwal (Tudwalus) is also called Tugdualus and Tugal, but the people usually call him Pabut, "father." He was descended from the lineage of the kings of Brittany, but was born in Great Britain and educated by Saint Iltut. It soon became apparent that the young prince was destined to labour for the kingdom of God. His mother Pompeja also left the world after the death of her husband Hoel I, who was called the Great, and withdrew to the solitude of a nunnery. Before long, Tudwal had seventy-two monks under his leadership at Llan-Labu, parish of Ploumpoer, in the land of Leon, with whom he travelled about the country, preaching, and founding new monasteries, including that of Trecor. 

Around A.D. 552, the latter was raised to a bishopric, the first administration of which was also entrusted to our saint. He undertook this responsible office with such great zeal that he drew severe hostilities from malicious people, which resulted in him being sent into exile for two years. However, these trials did not deter our holy bishop from his work for the salvation of souls. 

His blessed death took place in 564 (other sources state, 553). Although he was buried in Trecor (now called Traguier), that place has had no relics left of him since 878. In that year they were brought to safety from the Normans at Chartres. Some of them were left behind on the way to Laval, and in 1406 came to the Church of Our Lady there, and after its destruction by the French Revolution to the Church of the Holy Trinity. The collegiate church of Saint Aubin de Crepy received other relics, as did the town of Chateau-Landon which, however, were burned by the Calvinists in 1568. (Guerin.) This holy bishop is also commemorated on June 25.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, pp. 573-74)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org