Saint Samson

Today's saint is St. Samson, a Welsh bishop and confessor, who is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries to come from the Bristish Isles. He was born in Wales aound the year 485. At the age of seven, his parents dedicated him to the service of God in gratitude for his birth after a long period of childlessness. He became a disciple of St. Illtyd at the monastery of Lianwit in Glamorgan and then lived as a monk (and later abbot) of a community on Caldey Island (Ynys Byr). He was joined there by his uncle, Umbrafel, and his father, Amon. After a trip to Ireland, Samson became a hermit with Amon whom he cured of a mortal illness. During a trip to Cornwall, he was consecrated a bishop and appointed an abbot. He then departed England and went to Brittany where he spent the rest of his life as a missionary, even though he had long searched for solitude. Samson founded monasteries, including one at Dol and another at Pental, in Normandy. He was one of the foremost evangelizers of his century and has long been venerated with enthusiasm in Wales and Brittany.

For more information, see the Catholic Encylopedia.

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