St. Gildas is considered to be the first British historian quoted by the Venerable Bede and Alcuin.
Gildas
was born in Scotland of a noble British family. He was educated in
Wales under St. Illtud and was the companion of St. Samson and St. Peter
of Leon.
He embraced the monastic state and went to Ireland
where he was ordained. From Armagh in Ireland he went to North Britain
where his teaching was confirmed by miracles. On returning to Ireland at
the invitation of King Ainmire, he strengthened the faith of many and
built monasteries and churches.
After a pilgrimage to Rome, his
love of solitude led him to a hermetical life on the Island of Houat off
the coast of Brittany. Discovering his place of retreat, the Bretons
convinced him to establish a monastery at Rhuys, on the mainland from
whence he wrote his famous rebuke to five petty British kings and also
to the clergy accusing them of sloth and simony. His writings indicate a
man of no small culture, scriptural knowledge and sanctity.
He died on January 29, the day his feast is celebrated.
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