ST. MAGUIL, IN LATIN MADELGISILUS, RECLUSE IN PICARDY

HE is said to have been a native of Ireland, and the inseparable companion of St. Fursey, with whom he passed into France. After the death of that saint (who is honored on the 16th of January) Maguil retired among the monks of St. Riquier, whom he exceedingly edified by his virtues; but fearing that the extraordinary veneration in which he was held might expose him to the suggestions of pride, he with the abbot’s leave hid himself in the solitude of Monstrelet, upon the river Authie, where he served God with new fervor in all the exercises of a contemplative life. Here he was visited by a holy English recluse named Vulgan,† with whom he contracted a strict friendship, and they afterwards lived together for several years. The latter being seized with a mortal illness, endeavored to comfort his companion, whose grief on the occasion was excessive; and exhorting him to have sentiments more becoming a Christian, “You should tremble,” says he, “lest by this grief you offend God, and lose all the fruit of your labors.’ The abbot and monks of St. Riquier, being apprized of the situation of Vulgan, administered him the sacraments, and after his death buried him in the chapel of the hermitage. St. Maguil survived him but a short time, having died about the year 685. His body was buried in the same tomb with that of his holy companion, but was afterwards removed into a church of his name built near St. Riquier. He is honored on this day, which is supposed to be the day on which he died. See his life written in the twelfth age by Hariulf, a monk of St. Riquier, and published with remarks by Mabillon sæc. 4; Bened. p. 2: it is also in the Bollandists, with the notes of Henschenius and Papebroke.