St. Ethbin, or Egbin, Abbot

HE was of a noble British family, and was sent early into France to be educated under the care of his countryman, St. Samson, who was then bishop of Dole. Under this excellent master he made great progress in virtue: and hearing one day at mass these words of the gospel: Every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple, 1 he immediately formed a resolution to renounce the world. He was at this time a deacon, and having obtained his prelate’s consent he retired to the abbey of Taurac, in the year 554. Here he chose for his guide a holy monk named Guignole, or Winwaloe. 2 The community of Taurac being dispersed about the year 560, by an irruption of the Franks, and Guignole 3 dying soon after, St. Ethbin passed into Ireland, where he lived twenty years in a cell which he had built for himself in the midst of a forest. He was famous for his austerities and his miracles, and died at the age of eighty-three, towards the close of the sixth century, on the 19th of October, the day on which his name occurs in the Roman Martyrology.

Note 1. Luke xiv. 33. [back]

Note 2. This monk is not to be confounded with St. Winwaloe, abbot of Landevenech, who is honoured on the 3rd of March. [back]

Note 3. Bolland. t. 4, Mart. p. 248. n. 14. [back]

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