Saint Maudez
Encyclopedia
Saint Maudez is a Breton saint
who lived in the 5th or 6th centuries. He is also known as Maudé, Maudet (Breton French), Maodez or Modez (Breton), Maudetus (Latin), Mandé (French) and Mawes (in Cornwall). In the Breton calendar his feast is 18 November.
he is said to have founded a monastery in the 5th century on the island of Maudez.
He settled there with two disciples, Saint Budoc
and Saint Tudy
(or Tugdual). He banished the snakes and that is why he is invoked by those who want to get rid of reptiles, insects and worms. Traces of a beehive hut known as Forn Modez (Maudez's oven) are visible on the island.
A commune in Côtes-d'Armor
has the name Lanmodez
(enclosure of Modez or Maudez) where the monastery of Maudez which he founded and where he died is located.
In the 9th century his relic
s were taken to Bourges
and to Saint-Mandé
(Saint-Maudez), near Paris to escape from the Normans
. When they returned to Brittany they were divided between nine churches.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
who lived in the 5th or 6th centuries. He is also known as Maudé, Maudet (Breton French), Maodez or Modez (Breton), Maudetus (Latin), Mandé (French) and Mawes (in Cornwall). In the Breton calendar his feast is 18 November.
Biography
He is said to be from Ireland but it is above all in Brittany that his cult is greatest. In TrégorTrégor
Trégor is one of the nine provinces of Brittany, in its northwestern area. It comprises the western part of the department of Côtes-d'Armor and a small part of the northeast of Finistère, as far as the river Morlaix...
he is said to have founded a monastery in the 5th century on the island of Maudez.
He settled there with two disciples, Saint Budoc
Budoc
Saint Budoc of Dol was a Bishop of Dol, venerated after his death as a saint in both Brittany and Devon . Saint Budoc is the patron of Plourin Ploudalmezeau in Finistère where his relics are preserved...
and Saint Tudy
Tudy of Landevennec
Tudy of Landevennec was a Breton saint of the 5th or 6th century. He was a hermit who founded monasteries in Brittany and Cornwall. The village of St Tudy in Cornwall is named for him. He may have been a disciple of Saint Mawes , after whom St Mawes is named. His companions may have included Saint...
(or Tugdual). He banished the snakes and that is why he is invoked by those who want to get rid of reptiles, insects and worms. Traces of a beehive hut known as Forn Modez (Maudez's oven) are visible on the island.
A commune in Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor is a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France.-History:Côtes-du-Nord was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Brittany. Its name was changed in 1990 to...
has the name Lanmodez
Lanmodez
Lanmodez is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Lanmodez are called lanmodéziens.-External links:*...
(enclosure of Modez or Maudez) where the monastery of Maudez which he founded and where he died is located.
In the 9th century his relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s were taken to Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
and to Saint-Mandé
Saint-Mandé
Saint-Mandé is a commune of the Val-de-Marne department in Île-de-France in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
(Saint-Maudez), near Paris to escape from the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
. When they returned to Brittany they were divided between nine churches.
Legacy
- More than 60 churches or chapels are dedicated to the saint, e.g. GuiscriffGuiscriffGuiscriff is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-External links:* * -References:* *...
, LanvellecLanvellecLanvellec is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Culture:The commune has a rich architectural and cultural heritage. The parish church of Saint-Brandan was rebuilt between 1852 and 1868. Within it, are some interesting items, including an organ, built in...
. - Under the name Saint Mawes, he is venerated at Saint Mawes in Cornwall and in the Isles of Scilly.
- In Côtes d'Armor the village of St-Maudez is in the canton of Plélan-le-Petit.
Further reading
- Maurice Carbonnell, Saint Maudez-- Saint Mandé: un maître du monachisme breton, 2009 An exhaustive study which surveys the whole range of aspects of this saint: history, legend, veneration, and etymology. Also available as an illustrated volume of 172 p. ISBN 2-914996-06-3.