I first encountered Saint Elvis (alternatively spelt Saint Ailbe) in researching the Welsh Saint David for the blog about my hometown, Salisbury, England.
Saint Elvis is probably most famous for having baptized Saint David, the patron saint of Wales.
Saint Elvis seems to have been Bishop of Emly in the County Tipperary in the 6th Century, although some sources imply there was actually another, Welsh, Saint Elvis.
The Catholic Encyclopedia says that
It is very difficult to sift out the germs of truth from among the mass of legends which have gathered round the life of this Irish saint
There is a legend that the Irish Saint Elvis was raised by wolves, having been left in a forest. The legend has it that the mother-wolf came to the Cathedral when Elvis was Bishop, and was looked after by the holy man thereafter.
It is also said that the saint was bent on travelling around the British Isles in an attempt to convert people to Christianity but King Aongus wanted to keep him close by.
Further reading:
- GENUKI: St Elvis
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/St. Ailbe – Wikisource
- A Compendium of Irish Biography/Ailbe, Saint – Wikisource
- Roman Miscellany: Five Catholic Facts About Elvis
