"It is the saints who change the world for the better, they transform it in a lasting way, injecting in it energies that only love inspired by the Gospel can arouse. The saints are the great benefactors of humanity!" Pope Benedict XVI
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Day 57 -- Saint Foillan of Fosses
There were not too many saints on the calendar today, so I have chosen Saint Foillan of Fosses. Here is another example of a saint who knew or related to other saints. He lived in the 7th century in Ireland. His two brothers are also saints, Fursey of Peronne and Ultan of Peronne and it with them that he traveled with them from Ireland to England around 630 as missionaries and build a monastery near Yarmouth. He became an abbot of the community. A war broke around 650 and the house was destroyed and his brothers were killed, captured, or dispersed. Foillan ransomed back his brothers and collected the surviving relics and books and traveled to France. He and his brothers were welcomed and their evangelization was encouraged by King Clovis II. He went to Belgium and founded a monastery there too for the Diocese of Fosses around 653. The monastery was founded on land donated by Saint Itta of Nivelles and Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. He served as the abbot there as well. He became known as a popular preacher. He was murdered with three companions on the road by bandits as he was traveling on Church business. His remains were found 3 months later and was buried there. He is often considered a martyr. His other brother Saint Ultan took over as abbot of Fosses.
He is the patron of dentists, children's nurses, surgeons, and the Diocese of Fosses, Belgium.
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