Judicael

Saint Judicael was king of Domnonée in Brittany in the seventh century and afterwards a monk. He reposed on 16 or 17 December; the calendars give the year 658, historians 647 or 652.

He was born around 590, the eldest of fifteen brothers and five sisters, several of whom are venerated as saints, such as Judoc and Guinien. When his father died, around 605, the throne was taken by a younger brother, and Judicael withdrew to the abbey of Saint John at Gaël. After his brother's death, around 615, he left the monastery and ruled for twenty years with authority and wisdom, beloved by his people. The chronicles say that in 635 or 636, threatened by the Frankish army, he went to King Dagobert at Clichy, recognised his suzerainty and made peace; fearing God and the corruption of the court, he refused the king's hospitality. Around 642 he retired again to Gaël, leaving the throne to his brother Judoc, and spent his last years there as a monk. He was buried at Gaël, beside the abbot Méen.

He is a saint of the undivided Church and is commemorated on 17 December (New Calendar).