St. Samson of Dol

I have a new friend. There is a new cat in my neighborhood who has decided to visit me - he has invited himself into my apartment 3 times in the last two days as I have gone in or out (he has a collar, so he belongs somewhere). He's a sweetie and reminds me of a cat I had years ago named Samson. With that on my mind, I have chosen to feature St. Samson of Dol today.

Samson was born in the late fifth century in Wales and is considered one of the seven founder saints of Brittany. Due to a prophecy concerning his birth his parents placed him under the care of Saint Illtud, abbot of Llantwit Fawr, where he was raised and educated. He later sought more austerity and moved to Llantwit's daughter monastery where he eventually became abbot. He was consecrated a Bishop in the year 521.

Later he travelled to Cornwall, the Scilly Isles (where the island of Samson is named after him), Guernsey and Brittany, where he founded the monastery of Dol. He is recorded as having attended the council of Paris sometime between 556 and 573 - at which time he would have been an old man. His actual date of death is not known, but it was probably before the end of the council. He was buried in the cathedral of Dol. His feast day is July 28.