July 7: Saint Palladius, First Apostle to the Scots

Today, July 7, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Palladius (died 450), the first bishop of the Church in Ireland, and apostle to the Scots. Saint Palladius preceded Saint Patrick, paving the way for mass conversion of the green isle.


Saint Palladius was born in Rome, and is likely to have lived there, serving the Roman community for the majority of his adult life. He is known to have been married, and with his wife raised a daughter. Drawn to the contemplative life, however, he secluded himself from his family, and lived as an ascetic in Sicily, allowing his daughter to be raised by nuns in a convent on that island.

Rejoining Roman society, Saint Palladius was ordained a priest in 415, and was eventually elevated to Archdeacon of the Roman Church under Pope Celestine. In this role, he advised and encouraged the pope to send the Bishop Germanus to Britain, where he guided “the Britons back to the Catholic faith.”

Given the success of Bishop Germanus, Palladius himself was sent as the first Bishop to the Irish by Pope Celestine in the year 430. He had a difficult time, as a contemporary described: “God hindered him…and neither did those fierce and cruel men receive his doctrine readily, nor did he himself wish to spend time in a strange land, but returned to him who sent him.”

For twenty years, Saint Palladius labored in Ireland and Scotland, particularly around Leinster and Mearns. While he had little luck in Ireland, founding only three churches in his time, his foundational work is said to have prepared the countries for the arrival of Saint Patrick. Saint Palladius has considerably more success in Scotland, forming a considerable church, preaching with great zeal, and bringing many to the faith. He is referred to as the First Apostle to the Scots for this reason.

Church of Saint Palladius

Saint Palladius died at cell Fine (near modern-day Killeen), where his books, writings, and relics of Saints Peter and Paul were discovered. A church bearing his name remains.

While we know little of the life of Saint Palladius, we recognize the courage and zeal required for one to leave a home, travel to a distant land, and preach to an unwelcoming population. We pray today for that same courage and zeal, for the Word of God, and for those who have yet to hear it and believe.

Year 2: Day 188 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Zeal for the Word of God
Requested Intentions: For a daughter’s successful examination results (A); Occupational success, health and safety of family (S); Reduction in anxiety for husband, financial freedom (S); Healing for a sister-in-law (J); For a family experiencing a difficult child custody case (M); Reunification of a family struggling with separation (M): For a son struggling with mental illness (M); Successful examination results (B); To be freed from the chains of sin (J); Admission to a good university (M); For successful surgery (T); For a mother’s mental health and for kindness and forgiveness, for housing problems, for dental health (T); For the soul of a departed friend (X); Restoration of health (D); Successful employment for couple (N); For employment for children (K); For health of friend, for successful relationships for children, for safe pregnancy for daughter (C); For the health of a mother (J); Virtue for daughter (V); Successful acceptance to college for nephew (M); For the health of a cousin (T); Freedom from legal difficulties for husband (S); Husband’s freedom from illness (L).