Died c. 600. About 545, the pious Prince Budic of Brittany, migrated
with his family to Wales, where Saint Oudaceus is said to have been born
soon after. Oudaceus was the disciple and nephew of
Saint Teilo (f.d. February 9).
Following the inspired training of Teilo, Oudaceus
became a monk at Llandogo (and some say its bishop about 580). He
succeeded his uncle as abbot of Llandeilo Fawr.
All that is known about Oudaceus comes from the
Book of Llan Dav,
written about 1150 but incorporating some older material. Oudaceus is
one of the four patrons of Llandaff cathedral, where his relics rested
until 1540, although he was never bishop and is sometimes described as
one, perhaps because of the efforts he made to persuade the abbots of
Llancarfan, Llantwit, and Llandough to join forces against a corrupt
local chieftain. The areas served by these monasteries approximates the
later see of Llandaff.
Husenbeth, for example, relates the story that when Oudaceus
excommunicated King Mauric of Glamorgan for killing Prince Cynedu, the
king immediately repented because of the high esteem in which he held
Oudaceus.
The feast of Saint Oudaceus appears on numerous English calendars,
including Sarum, York, and Hereford, probably due to a belief that he
presented himself to
Saint Augustine of Canterbury (f.d. May 27)
for
consecration
(
Attwater2,
Benedictines,
Farmer,
Husenbeth).