Monday, December 9, 2013

Budoc of Dol

Born a prince, the son of a king of Brittany; his mother was Azenor, princess of Brest, France. Legend says that his mother was set adrift in a cask, and that Budoc was born at sea with Saint Brigid of Ireland in attendance. Educated in a monastery near Waterford, Ireland. Abbot at Youghal, Ireland. Bishop of Dol, Brittany for 26 years. Several places in Devon and Cornwall in England are named after him.

Saint Budoc was the Bishop of Dol in Brittany. The details of his life are shrouded in legend. He is reputed to have been grandson of the King of Brest. Budoc was supposed to have been born at sea under incredible circumstances. His mother, Princess Azenor of Brest, had been falsely accused of infidelity by her jealous stepmother. Budoc's furious father, the King of Goello (Treguier), had Azenor exiled, and near Brest had thrown his pregnant wife into the sea in a cask. There Budoc was born attended in his mother's visions by Saint Brigid. She took refuge in Ireland, where Budoc was raised. Both Azenor and Budoc were later welcomed back to the Kingdom of Brest after Azenor's stepmother fell ill, and upon her deathbed recanted the evil lies she had spread. (Evans, 1919) Budoc was raised and educated at Youghal monastery, and later became its abbot. The vita of Breton Saint Winwaloe describes Budoc as a teacher living on the island of Laurea. Later Budoc was elected bishop, and then returned to Brittany, where he succeeded Saint Samson and Saint Maglorius as bishop of Dol and ruled for 26 years (according to the 10th century vita of Maglorius and the 11th century 'Chronicle of Dol').

Budoc is reputed to have sailed across the Plymouth Sound, until he found an inlet on the Devon side of the River Tamar. He landed in Budshead Creek, part of the present district of Plymouth called St Budeaux. His supposed activity suggests the foundation of an early church in Plymouth. However, there is no evidence of the name in Devon prior to the 16th century. There is also an ancient church said to have been dedicated by him at Budock in Cornwall, and there was once one in Oxford too.

Propers for Budoc of Dol - Monastic, Missionary and Bishop

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast called us to faith in thee, and hast compassed us about with so great a cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good examples of thy Saints, and especially of thy servant Budoc of Dol, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we with them attain to thine eternal joy; through him who is the author and finisher of our faith, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle - Philippians 3:7-15.

HOWBEIT what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffer the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, even this shall God reveal unto you.


The Gospel - St. Luke 10:1-9.

AFTER these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor pack, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatso ever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.


Reference and Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budoc
http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-budoc-of-brittany/

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