| History & Beginnings the Hermits of St. Giles |
| History of St. Giles St. Giles of Nimes, born 650 A.D. in Athens, Greece, is the Patron Saint of Disabled Persons and Outcasts in our Roman Catholic Church. Legend has it Giles was born of royal lineage. His father was King Theodore and his mother was Queen Pelagia. The feast day of our Saint is September 1st. St. Giles had a burning desire in his heart to dedicate his life as a hermit. He settled deep in the forest near Nimes, a small village in the south of France. For many years he dedicated his life to God alone in the stillness of his hermitage, with his sole companion being a deer. However, his dream of being a hermit was tragically interrupted. One day, King Wamba, a Frank and Visigoth, was on a hunting expedition and came upon the beautiful little deer. |
the Hermits of St. Giles Hermits of St. Giles is a contemplative association of physically disabled men and women hermits in the Roman Catholic Tradition. Our ministry is one of adoration,of praise, and the offering of our personal suffering because of our illnesses and disabilities. We strive to live in the heart of the Church, intimately united with the Church in her saving mission. In this life of hidden prayer, we strive to become contemplative missionaries, consumed with a burning desire for the sanctification and salvation of the world. We freely offer our suffering that stems from our physical illnesses and disabilities. We offer these daily sufferings to our Blessed Mother so that this most sublime gift will most assuredly reach the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Hermits of St. Giles have had a desire to become a monk or a nun and enter a monastic community. Unfortunately, however, due to our continuous need for medical assistance and treatments, the reality of living in a monastic Order is not possible for us. We, therefore, remain in our homes or medical facilities so we may receive our on-going medical assistance. It is very important that members of the Hermits of St. Giles are registered with a local Church parish. In this way, our particular parishes can become more aware of our presence within the family of God. |
2. The deer fled in fright when the king came close and leaped into the arms of St. Giles for protection. In the king's excitement, he haphazardly shot an arrow toward the escaping deer. The arrow tragically lodged in the arm of St. Giles and rendered his arm useless from that moment on. King Wamba became so sorrowful for his actions, he humbly petitioned St. Giles to forgive him. The Saint, filled with the mercy of God in his heart, forgave the king. The king was so moved by the holy man, he turned his heart over to God from then on. |
3. Realizing that St. Giles was now disabled and needed assistance with the everyday chores King Wamba had a monastery built for him. This helped St. Giles to not only follow a contemplative way once again, but also helped him to receive the medical assistance he now needed with his daily struggles. St. Giles accepted his cross, and with the Sacraments, the Scriptures and the Rule of St. Benedict, he lived out his life in union with Jesus our Lord. The holiness of St. Giles spread throughout the land and God worked many miracles through him. |
