oro,
hymn 1.

ST. WINWALOE, OF WINWALOC, ABBOT.

FRAGAN or Fracan, father of this saint, was nearly related to Cathoun,
one of the kings or princes of Wales, and had by his wife Gwen three
sons, Guethenoc, Jacut, and Winwaloe, whom they bound themselves by vow
to consecrate to God from his birth, because he was their third son. The
invasions of the Saxons, and the storms which soon after overwhelmed his
own country, obliged him to seek a harbor in which he might serve God in
peace. Riwal had retired a little before, with many others, from Wales
into Armorica, and had been there kindly received; several Britons, who
had followed the tyrant Maximus, having settled in that country long
before. Fragan therefore transported his whole family, about the middle
of the fifth century, and fixed his habitation at a place called from
him to this day, Ploufragan, situated on the river Gouct, which ancient
British and Gaulish word signifies blood. All accounts of our saint
agree that his two elder brothers were born in Great Britain, but some
place the birth of St. Winwaloe, and of his sister Creirvie, much
younger than him, in Armorica. The pious parents brought up their
children in the fear of God, but out of fondness delayed to place
Winwaloe in a monastery, till he was now grown up. At length, touched by
God, the father conducted him to the monastery of St. Budoc, in the isle
of Laurels,[1] now called Isleverte, or Green Island, not far from the
isle of Brehat. St. Budoc was an abbot in Great Britain, eminent for
piety and learning, and flying from the swords of the Saxons, took
refuge among his countrymen in Armorica, and in this little island
assembled several monks, and opened a famous school for youth. Under his
discipline Winwaloe made such progress, that the holy abbot appointed
him superior over eleven monks, whom he sent to lay the foundation of a
new monastery. They travelled through Domnonea, or the northern coast of
Brittany, and finding a desert island near the mouth of the river Aven,
now called Chateaulin, they built themselves several little huts or
cells. From these holy inhabitants the name of Tibidy, that is, House of
Prayers, was given to that island, which it still retains. This place is
exposed to so violent winds and storms, that after three years St.
Winwaloe and his community abandoned it, and built themselves a
monastery on the continent, in a valley sheltered from the winds, called
Landevenech, three l