I sometimes wonder about these hermits who wandered into some wild place in the middle of nowhere. How on Earth did they manage? Especially in the Winter? I don;t think they could have managed without some kind of preparation. I mean you could simply turn up on a mountain or in a deep wood and hope to survive. Even if we are only going to camp for a few days we have to pack a big haversack full of stuff. There are still hermits all over the World. I read about one recently who lives in really wild woods in Romania. She has been there for many, many years. A local Forest Ranger has befriended her and helps her out as do one of two other and bring her stuff to help her out. She seems to be truly like something out of the books of the saints. Like Saint Giles. It reminds me of the Prophet Elijah to whom God caused the ravens to bring meat. Apart from anything else it shows immense trust in the Providence of God and a deep, deep spirit of detachment. Other hermits seem to live in the most lovely really comfortable places. They are very good at working with their hands and their homes are much better, for example, than my own very comfortable little place. Usually in order to make it hermits have some connection to a monastery to make things happen. It is lovely and romantic to think of people like Saint Giles; but there is also something terrible and scary about it too. There are hermits living like St Giles in the World today. I find them awesome. 1 Kings 17:4-6 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
SAINT OF THE DAY WEDNESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2026 SAINT AGRICOLUS BISHOP (c. 630 AD - c. 700 AD) Saint Agricolus, also known as Agricola, was born around the year 630 in Avignon. His father, Saint Magnus, a Gallo-Roman senator of the gens Albina, who, after the death of his wife, became first a monk at Lérins and then bishop of Avignon. When he was 14 years old, Agricolus himself went to Lérins and acquired a great reputation for piety and learning, was advanced to the priesthood. After sixteen years as a monk, his father summoned him to the episcopal city. Here he was appointed archdeacon and distinguished himself by his preaching, by his powers of administration, and by his care for the poor, the oppressed and the sick. He became the Bishop of Avignon after the death of his father in 660. As bishop of Avignon, St. Agricolus worked all the harder for the sake of his flock. He was named Patron of Avignon in 1647. He built a church in Avignon to be served by the monks of Lerins and also a convent for Benedictine nuns. He is considered to have battle with the devil–not utilizing his own weak human will, but shielded with a crucifix, much prayer, fasting and faith in his Redeemer. One of the great miracles attributed was when there was an infestation of storks, a simple blessing of his drove away the giant birds. Another miracle was during a great plague of terrible storms, St. Agricolus's intercession resulted in good weather. Saint Agricolus died in 700 at the age of 70. PATRON: Avignon, storks, good weather, fine harvests, rain, against the bubonic plague and misfortune of all kinds. SYMBOL: St. Agricolus, is sometimes depicted with a dragon, like Saints George, Arsacius and Margaret of Antioch. He is also represented in art by a stork. PRAYER: Loving God, today we remember St. Agricolus who devoted his life to the service of the poor, the sick and the down-trodden. Let us remember all those who live in poverty, who are in need of our assistance and who are considered the outcasts of our society. May we care for them and provide what they need to live a healthy life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
