ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS NOVEMBER 8, St. Tysilio, St. Cybi, St. Moroc, St. Willehad

ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS NOVEMBER 8 St. Tysilio, mid 7th century. Welsh abbot. The son of a Welsh prince, Brochwel Ysgythrog, he left home at a young age to become a monk at Meifod in Powys, Wales, later serving as abbot. He departed Wales for Brittany, France, about 617, supposedly in an effort to escape the relentless attentions of the widow of his deceased brother and his father’s demands that he return home. In Brittany he settled on the site that became known as St. Suliac (his name in the region), although it is possible that the name may refer to some other person. St. Cybi, 6th century. Welsh abbot, one of the most venerated saints in Anglesey, also called Cuby and Kabius. Born in Cornwall, England, and a cousin of St. David of Wales, he refused the throne of his area. Cybi went to Monmouthshire and then to Avanmore, in Ireland, to study under St. Anda. On Anglesey, an island near Holyhead, Wales, Cybi founded a monastery called Caer Cybi. He is the patron of Llangebby and Llangybi, as well as Cornwall, Tregony, Landulf, and Cuby. St. Moroc, 9th century. Scottish bishop of Dunblane who originally served as abbot of Dunkeld. He was venerated especially in the old Scottish rite, and several churches bear his name. St. Willehad, 789 A.D. Benedictine missionary and bishop. A native of Northumbria, England, he studied at York, was a friend of Blessed Alcuin, and became a monk in York or Ripon. About 766, he embarked upon a journey to preach among the Frisians of the Netherlands. He preached at Dokkum and Overyssel, but was forced to flee with his companions because of the violent pagan reaction. In 780, at the request of Charlemagne (r. 768-814), he became a missionary among the Saxons, but again he was forced to flee, owing to the Saxon uprising against the Franks. He went to Rome to make a report of his activities to Pope Adrian I (r. 772-795) and spent two years at Echternach monastery in Luxembourg. Wufrid gathered together missionary resources, and after Charlemagne's reconquest of Saxony, he received an appointment as bishop of Worms, Germany, in 787, with his seat at Bremen and ruissionary authority over the Saxons. He died at Bremen a few days after dedicating the cathedral of St. Peter.