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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
c. 650–c. 710
Patron Saint of the disabled, the poor, beggars, nursing mothers, cancer patients, and blacksmiths
St. Giles, also known as St. Egidio, is a well-known and revered saint of the early Middle Ages. Though many details of his life come from ancient traditions, his witness to prayer, humility, and mercy inspired Christians across Europe for centuries.
Born in Athens, Greece, around 650, Giles came from a wealthy and respected family. Following the deaths of his parents, he used his inheritance to assist the poor, devoting himself more fully to God. Desiring a life free from worldly distractions, he left his homeland and traveled to what is now France.
Giles sought solitude in a remote forest near the mouth of the Rhône River. Tradition says he lived for several years in a cave, spending his days in prayer and penance. A hind (doe) became his companion and, according to legend, helped sustain him with its milk. One day, royal hunters pursuing the deer discovered Giles when an arrow intended for the animal struck the hermit instead.
The king was deeply impressed by Giles’s holiness and offered him gifts, which he declined. Eventually, however, a monastery was built near his hermitage. Giles accepted the responsibility of serving as abbot, guiding the monks under the Benedictine rule.
Giles became widely known for his wisdom and compassion, especially toward those burdened by sin or seeking God’s forgiveness. His reputation spread throughout Europe, and devotion to him grew rapidly after his death around the year 710.
During the Middle Ages, St. Giles was counted among the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a group of saints invoked in times of need. He is recognized for his foundational contribution to the spread of monasticism in France and beyond.
The deer is the symbol most closely associated with Giles. According to a longstanding tradition, while living as a hermit in the forests of southern France, he was sustained by the milk of a hind (doe) that sought refuge near his cave. When hunters pursued the animal, it ran into the cave. Giles protected it and was accidentally wounded by an arrow intended for the hind. The injury left him disabled for life. Artists often portray the saint with a deer standing beside him or an arrow in his hand or leg. The image highlights his compassion for God’s creatures and his willingness to suffer in defense of the vulnerable.
The Fourteen Holy Helpers were a group of saints especially honored in medieval Europe. Christians frequently invoked them during times of illness, plague, and other hardships. Giles was included because of his reputation as a powerful intercessor and healer of various diseases. He became particularly associated with those suffering from physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, leprosy, cancer, and mental illness. Devotion to the Holy Helpers spread widely after outbreaks of disease in the 14th century.
One of the most important sites connected with Giles is the Abbey of Saint-Gilles in southern France. Built near the location traditionally associated with his monastery, it became a major pilgrimage destination during the Middle Ages. Pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela often stopped there to pray and venerate the saint. Numerous churches throughout Europe and the British Isles were dedicated to St. Giles. Outside of Europe, some churches in the United States, Africa, and Australia have been named in honor of the saint, preserving the memory of his holy life.
The Blessed Virgin Mary bore extreme pains throughout her life. And as the mother of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), she witnessed her Son’s Passion and Death on the Cross. This is why, as we face our own pains and temptations, we should turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and meditate on her Seven Dolors, or Sorrows.
This free eBook will encourage you to meditate on these Sorrows that pierced Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Use the form below to tell us where to send your free eBook, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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