Excerpt from Lives of the Irish Saints, Vol. 9: With Special Festivals, and the Commemorations of Holy Persons, Compiled From Calendars, Martyrologies and Various Sources, Relating to the Ancient Church History of Ireland

St. Egidius is supposed to have been of Greek origin, and born, about the year 640, of noble parents, who lived at Athens.21 His father was named Theodore, and his mother was Pelagia. Distinguished for innocence and holiness of life from his early years, he well profited by the example and advice of pious parents. He at length resolved to leave his native country, that he might more securely and religiously live in solitude. Already, he had been placed under the charge of the most illustrious teachers of his period and nation while he soon manifested those great natural scintilla tions of intellect by the progress he made in humanities. However, he pre ferred the study of sacred literature, and it served still more to foster in his soul the love of God, and to cause his estrangement from earthly ambition and worldly pleasures.

When Egidius had attained the twenty-fourth year, his father first died, and soon afterwards his mother. The pious young man was most sensibly afflicted at this double privation; but he resolved to make account of it, by reflecting on the transitory nature of all earthly things. Falling on his knees, he invoked the Supreme Consoler, and asked for light and grace to conduct him on the path to Heaven. Nor was he long left in ignorance of a course to take, for he had resolved on making generous sacrifices, which were destined to gain for him the eternal crown. His charity towards the poor was remarkable. One day, while going to' the church to practise his cus tomary devotions, he met a poor man who was ill and miserably clad. Asking alms from the pious young man, the latter took off his own outer garment, which was even necessary for the preservation of his health.

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