Saint Gobain was born in Ireland, but he traveled to France in the company of another future saint named Fursey. Gobain decided to live as a hermit in a cell there and even built a church.

Some traditions also say that marauding tribes from Germany invaded the countryside and that Gobain was killed by them around the year 670. It’s not clear whether they killed Gobain because he had no treasure to give them or because he was a Christian. But he has been revered as a saint ever since.

Saint Gobain, help me to understand your love of solitude.