1st September, St. Giles, Abbot

St. Giles, Abbot

St. Giles, born at Athens, distributed all his patrimony to the poor and followed Jesus (Gospel). Several miracles having made him celebrated he fled to Provence to escape away from honours. He lived in prayer and meditation (Introit) in the depths of a vast forest, with no other food but roots and the milk of a tame hind. One day, when pursued by the hounds of the Visigothic king Wamba, the hind fled to the grotto of the saint who, while trying to protect her, had his hand pierced by an arrow. The king on his arrival urgently begged the saint to consent to the building of a monastery on the spot. The holy hermit undertook its government and like Moses among the people of God (Epistle) he became the chief and law-giver of a numerous monastic family which followed his leadership, his doctrine and his counsels (Communion). This happened in 673.

The Abbey of St. Giles, a marvel of architecture, became one of the most frequented resorts of pilgrims in the Middle Ages, and a town arose there. The counts of Toulouse regarded it as an honour to bear this saint's name. The ancient Missals place him among the "fourteen Auxiliary Saints." He was invoked in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and England, where 146 churches were built in his honour. St. Giles died about 721. His tomb was discovered in 1865.

Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium; lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement: the law of his God is in his heart. * Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity.
(Psalm 36:30-31,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Intercessio nos, quaesumus, Domine, beati Aegidii Abbatis commendet: ut, quod nostris meritis non valemus, eius patrocinio assequamur.
O God who dost gladden us by the annual solemnity of blessed Giles, Thy confessor, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his heavenly birthday may also imitate his example.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06559a.htm