St. Samson of Dol

St. Samson of Dol was born in south Wales in the early sixth century, of a family already close to the monasteries. He was given as a child to St. Illtud at Llanilltud Fawr, then lived under St. Piro on Caldey Island. The lives say he was ordained, made abbot when Piro died, and soon found that a monastery could be as political as a court. He crossed to Ireland for a time, then to Cornwall, then to the sea.

Brittany received him as it received St. Malo and St. Aaron: a monk with a staff, looking for a solitude that became a see. He founded a monastery at Dol, was made bishop — quite possibly without a Roman city behind the title, in the Celtic way — and spent his last decades preaching, consecrating, and judging among the Britons of Armorica.

He signed, or at least his name stands on, the acts of a council at Paris about 562. That detail matters. Samson was not only a wonder-worker of the Celtic lives. He was a bishop in communion with the Frankish church, a bridge between the island monasteries and the Gallic sees.

He died about 565. Dol kept his tomb. Brittany numbers him first among its seven founder saints. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him on July 28.

Liturgical Celebration

St. Samson is kept on July 28. Dol and the churches of Brittany keep his memory with particular honor. Wales also claims him among her early saints.

Traditions and Customs

The day is well used to pray for Brittany, for monastic bishops, and for Christians who must move from one country to another without losing the faith they were taught.

Prayer and Devotion

Pair his memorial with St. Malo and St. Aaron of Aleth.