Saint Agilus

Agnoald, thus making a sacrifice to God of his son, also wished to give presents worthy of his liberality to the monastery of Saint Columbanus. He gave books, furniture, and other suitable goods to increase the capacity to receive a greater number of religious. The young Aile was entrusted to the care of Saint Eustace, a person equ saint Eustase Successor of Columbanus at Luxeuil, he healed Fara and intervened with her father. ally pious and learned, who was raising several other noble children in the same monastery, to whom he taught the first principles of the Christian life and solid piety, at the same time that he taught them human letters. Eustace succeeded so happily in this office that several holy prelates emerged from his school who subsequently illustrated several Churches of France.

Under such a good master, the young Agile made remarkable progress in science and virtue. Although he did not neglect the authors that it was appropriate to consult and read to perfect himself in the human sciences, he nevertheless preferred above all things the study of the Holy Scriptures; he mortified himself with continuous fasts and vigils; he was very assiduous in prayer and the most humble and obedient of all his brethren, always regarding himself as the last of all. He practiced these virtues with such fidelity and in such a judicious manner that he attracted the esteem and benevolence, not only of all those who lived with him, but also of the prince's courtiers, who were the least capable of approving such practices of virtue.

Agnoald, father of Saint Agile, having died, the monastery of Saint Columbanus lost in his person a powerful protector; shortly after, Que en Brunhilda, wido la reine Brunehaut Queen of Austrasia and Burgundy, principal political opponent of Columbanus. w of Sigebert and mother of Childebert, launched a harsh persecution against Saint Columbanus, whom she could not tolerate because of the firmness with which he forbade women from entering his monastery, without exception; she even had him driven from Luxeuil by her grandson Theuderic, King of Thierry King of Burgundy, grandson of Brunhilda. Burgundy, with orders to return to Ireland. Saint Eustace, successor to Saint Columbanus, showing the same constancy, was also persecuted by Brunhilda; she had a decree published, in the name of the King, her grandson, forbidding all the religious of Saint Columbanus from leaving the enclosure of their house.

Saint Eustace and his religious sent Agile to King Theuderic to try to soften his spirit and make him change his mind; but he was stopped by soldiers who were guarding the monastery to prevent any religious from leaving; one of them having tried to strike him with his sword, the arm and hand of this reckless man became paralyzed, and he could not even take a step, nor move from his place until the Saint had prayed for him; this soldier was converted by this miracle and became a good religious in the monastery of Luxeuil. The prince, informed of this wonder, gave Agile the best welcome and confirmed the rule that forbade women from entering the monastery. Our Saint even returned laden with gifts that this prince and his queen gave him for the church of Luxeuil. Five or six years later (617), Saint Agile and Abbot Eustace were chosen by an assembly of bishops to carry the light of the Gospel beyond the Vosges and the Jura, and as far as Bavaria. They converted many i nfidels Bavière Region of the saint's birth. there. Saint Agile supported his preaching with miraculous works that contributed not a little to confirming the new converts in their faith.

Among other wonders, he cast an unclean spirit out of the body of a possessed man, who complained openly of seeing the empire he had exercised for so long over the peoples of that country destroyed. He predicted to a father of a family that two of his children, whom he blessed, would be raised to high dignities in the world, and that they would later become great servants of God. He also restored sight to a young girl who had lost it. Our Saint, having himself fallen into a very burning fever that forced him to stop on the way and interrupt his work, Eustace, his abbot, who had a singular esteem and friendship for him, and who knew his power before God, urged him to ask for his own health from Him who alone could heal him in a moment. Saint Agile, following the desire of his superior, prayed, and immediately received a perfect healing.

Upon returning to Luxeuil, Saint Agile continued to build up that abbey until God called him to the governance of Rebais. It was a newly built monastery, in the diocese of Meaux, by Saint Oue n, who was saint Ouen Author of the eulogy and life of Saint Aurea. still only a layman and referendary or chancellor of France. Saint Faron having mad saint Faron Bishop of Meaux and mentor to Saint Hildevert. e known to him the merit and capacity of Saint Agile to govern well, he did everything he could to withdraw him from the monastery of Luxeuil and bring him to Rebais. This matter was all the more difficult, as the peoples of the dioceses of Besançon, Langres, Metz, and Toul could not resolve to be deprived of the preachings, good counsel, and miracles of this apostolic man. Saint Ouen had royal authority intervene to obtain what he desired, having no other view in this than the glory of God. Saint Agile was therefore obliged to leave the monastery of Luxeuil; he went, following the orders of his prince and the desires of Saint Ouen, to Rebais, where he had the monastery that had already been started finished with great economy and prudence; and, after Saint Faron, Saint Amand, and several other bishops had solemnly performed the dedication of the church, the prelates, in an assembly held at Clichy Clichy Site of the episcopal assembly that appointed Agile as abbot. , established Saint Agile as the first abbot of this place (636).

This humble servant of God, seeing himself raised above others, regarded himself as the least of the house, to whom one would only have given the charge of providing for everything: he nourished his flock as much by the holiness of his conduct as by the eloquence and unction of his pious exhortations; he became a perfect example of all virtues, and increased his fasts, vigils, mortifications, and prayers. He was very liberal toward the poor, and received pilgrims and strangers with great charity. Once, among other times, having noticed in the evening, at the door of his monastery, a poor man covered in ulcers, who prayed that he be given lodging, he opened for him and ordered that food be prepared for him; the poor man having said that he could not walk easily, the charitable abbot took him upon his shoulders and carried him to the place intended to receive him; but he was very astonished to notice that this burden, which should naturally have been heavy, had become weightless. He continued his works of charity toward this stranger; he took a basin, water, and cloths to wash his feet and wipe his wounds; but another wonder occurred: his guest disappeared in an instant, and this gave cause to believe that this poor man was not of the number of those who ordinarily appear on earth. Another day, as he had had a little wine given to pilgrims that remained only to be offered at Mass, all having drunk as much as they wished, the vessel remained full to overflowing; Saint Aile prayed those present not to publish this wonder until after his death. The infernal spirit, unable to endure the charities and alms of this holy Abbot, appeared to him in the form of a horrible dragon, which threatened him; but the Saint, having confidence in God, easily triumphed over its threats by the mere sign of the cross: by this same sign, to which he joined prayer, he knew how to dissipate a furious storm, accompanied by thunder and lightning that threatened workers who were harvesting; Saint Aile, the religious who accompanied him, and the harvesters did not receive a single drop of water, although torrents of rain fell on all the lands surrounding the fields where they were.

So many wonders and such great holiness attracted a large number of noble persons, from the court and other parts of the country, who embraced the religious state under the wise guidance of the Abbot of Rebais. Sain t Philibert, th Saint Philibert Founder of Jumièges and Noirmoutiers, mentor of Saint Achard. e first abbot of Jumièges in Normandy, was one of the most famous disciples of Saint Aile. Finally, after having labored thus for the glory of his God, and having formed for His service a great number of holy persons who have since upheld the glory of the monastic state, being very aged and having no more desires than for heaven, he prayed to God to withdraw him from this world; his prayer was not long without being answered, for, shortly after, this venerable abbot died on the 30th of the month of August, around the year 650, aged about sixty-seven years. Several sick people, who implored his assistance, suddenly received health at the time when preparations were being made to bury him. A religious of the monastery, who was afflicted with a very violent fever, received a perfect cure by touching a cloth that was on his coffin. Another religious, who was suffering from a very painful toothache, was also immediately delivered from this discomfort by having his head touch the tomb of the Saint.

Saint Agile or Saint Aile is held in great veneration in Rebais and in all the surrounding areas. One kilometer from the town there is a chapel, where pilgrims go every Friday of each week. This chapel has just been rebuilt through the care of Father Remy, founder of the Saint-Aile Agricultural Orphanage. The choir of the parish church of Rebais served as an oratory for Saint Aile; it is there that he was buried, and the stone that covered his tomb is still possessed. Nothing remains of the relics of Saint Aile except for an arm bone; they were destroyed during the R evolution. Révolution Period during which the saint's relics were hidden and lost. A solemn procession, where the reliquaries are carried, takes place on Whit Monday.

Nothing remains of the old monastery of Rebais: the revolution ary hammer destroyed ev marteau révolutionnaire Period during which the saint's relics were hidden and lost. erything. However, one can still see some insignificant ruins on the site of the abbey.

Mabillon; Legendary of Marinie; Local notes provided by Mr. Cottin, parish priest and dean of Rebais.