medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> >
>That's Samson of Dol, of course. Perhaps someone on this list would
>offer a few words about him.
>
>Best again,
>John Dillon
From the Old CE:
St. Samson
Bishop and confessor, born in South Wales; died 28 July, 565 (?). The date
of his birth is unknown. His parents whose names are given as Amon of Dyfed
and Anna of Gwynedd, were of noble, but not royal, birth. While still an
infant he was dedicated to God and entrusted to the care of St. Illtyd, by
whom he was brought up in the monastery of Llantwit Major. He showed
exceptional talents in his studies, and was eventually ordained deacon and
priest by St. Dubric. After this he retired to another monastery, possibly
after that on Caldy Island, to practise greater austerities, and some years
later became it abbot. About this time some Irish monks who were returning
from Rome happened to visit Samson's monastery. So struck was the abbot by
their learning and sanctity that he accompanied them to Ireland, and there
remained some time. During h is visit he received the submission of an Irish
monastery, and, on his return to Wales, sent one of his uncles to act as its
superior. His fame as a worker of miracles now attracted so much attention
that he resolved to found a new monastery or cell "far from the haunts of
men", and accordingly retired with a few companions to a lonely spot on the
banks of the Severn. He was soon discovered, however, and forced by his
fellow-countrymen to become abbot of the monastery formerly ruled by St.
Germanus; here St. Dubric consecrated him bishop but without appointment to
any particular see. Now, being warned by an angel, he determined to leave
England and, after some delay, set sail for Brittany. He landed near Dol,
and there built a monastery which became the centre of his episcopal work in
the district. Business taking him to Paris, he visited King Childebert
there, and was nominated by him as Bishop of Dol; Dol, however, did not
become a regular episcopal see till about the middle of the ninth century.
Samson attained the age of 85 years, and was buried at Dol. Several early
lives of Samson exist. The oldest, printed by Mabillon in his "Acta
Sanctorum" from a MS. at Citeaux, and again by the Bollandists, claims to be
compiled from information derived from Samson's contemporaries, which would
refer it to about 600. Dom Plaine in the "Analecta Bollandiana" has edited
another and fuller life (from MS. Andeg., 719), which he regards as earlier
than Mabillon's. Later lives are numerous.
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