Born c. 580; died 650. Saint Agilus, son of Childebert II's courtier
Agnoald, followed the models of virtue found in his
family. Upon the advice of
Saint Columbanus (f.d. November 21)
his
parents consecrated him to God in the monastery of Luxeuil. After his
father's death, Saint Columbanus had no defender in the Austrasian court
leaving the way open for Brunehault to persecute the saint for refusing
admittance of women into his monastery. Saint Agilus intervened by
seeking an audience with King Thierry and convinced him to leave the
monks in peace. Eventually, however, Columbanus was forced out and made
his way to Bobbio, Italy. Saint Agilus remained at Luxeuil even after
Saint Eustatius (f.d. March 29)
succeeded its founder. After studying
Scripture and the ways to Christian perfection, he and Saint Eustatius
responded to the call of the bishops for evangelists to preach the
Gospel in Bavaria. After a successful mission, Saint Agil returned to
France and resumed his penitential exercises, until he was called to
undertake the governance of the monastery of Rebais in the diocese of
Meaux near Paris, which had been founded by
Saint Ouen (f.d. August 24),
where he was abbot until his death
(
Benedictines,
Husenbeth).