I Was Once Very Popular, But Now I Am Mostly Forgotten

I was once a very popular saint with churches and towns named for me, but now I am mostly forgotten in this secular age . . .

St. Giles (7th c.) was born to a noble Greek family. He devoted his life to the things of God and grew in sanctity. To escape the praise of men for his material and spiritual riches, he sold all of his possessions, gave his wealth to the poor, and moved away to Gaul (present day France) to live in solitude as a cave-dwelling hermit in the wilderness. He lived in this way without companionship for many years while practicing severe penances. He became so impoverished that God sent a deer to be his companion and to nourish him with its milk.

One day a hunter in pursuit of the deer came to the cave where it dwelt with St. Giles. The hunter shot an arrow into the cave, and instead of hitting the deer, he injured the saint. St. Giles was discovered and soon became known throughout the countryside. He consented to receive disciples who desired to imitate his way of life.

He founded a monastery at his cave under the Rule of St. Benedict and became abbot. St. Giles was known as a miracle worker even during his life, and he became one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages.

He is the patron of lepers, hermits, beggars, cripples, disabled, rams, and woods. 

St. Giles' feast day is September 1st.