Today the Church honors St. Giles, Monk.
Ora pro nobis.
St. Giles (Aegidius in Latin, Egidio in Italian) is said to have been born in Athens c. AD 610. His piety and learning made him so conspicuous and an object of such admiration in his own country that, dreading praise and longing for a hidden life, he left his home and sailed for Gaul (France). At first he took up his abode in a wilderness near the mouth of the Rhône river, afterward near Arles close to the river Gard, and, finally, in a forest in the diocese of Nîmes in the south of France.
In this forest, he spent many years in the greatest solitude. It is told that his sole companion was a beloved red deer. Giles is also said to have only eaten a strict vegetarian diet. This retreat was finally discovered by the king's hunters, who had pursued his pet deer to its place of refuge, his hermitage. An arrow shot at the deer wounded the saint instead, having placed himself between the hunters and the deer. His wound healed but apparently left him with some form of disability. He afterwards became a patron of the physically disabled.
He spent many years in solitude, conversing only with God. Eventually, local the peoples learned of him and began to come to him for prayer. In time, the fame of his miracles became so great that his reputation eventually spread throughout Gaul. He was highly esteemed by the local Gallic king, but he could not be prevailed upon to forsake his solitude. He later admitted several disciples, however, to share it with him. He founded a monastery, and established an excellent discipline therein. In succeeding ages, the monastery embraced the rule of St. Benedict. St. Giles died c. AD 710.
Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Giles, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
