St. Simon of England

or St Simon Stock

Little is known about St. Simon Stock. It is thought that Simon was born in this county of Kent, here in England, in 1165.

Story has it that he was very prayerful and that he left his home when he was twelve years old, to live as a hermit in the hollow trunk of a tree.

That’s why he became known as ‘Simon Stock’

Hermits like living on their own, alone in the woods, up in a mountain, or sometimes they live in a city.

They do this so that they can be alone with God and be closer to him. 

It is believed that Simon spent twenty years in the hollow trunk of a tree praying and doing penance.

He later joined the religious Order of our Lady of Mount Carmel and became a monk. He lived in Aylesford and later moved to France.

He was very close to our Lady, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary appeared before him and gave him the scapular to assure him of her protection.

Mary told him that whoever dies wearing the scapular, will be saved. So from St. Simon Stock, the devotion of wearing the Brown Scapular spread all over the world.

St. Simon Stock died in Bordeaux, France in 1265.

Summary of St Simon of England

or St Simon Stock

• He was born here in Kent, England in 1165 and died 1265.
• He was called “Simon Stock” because at the age of twelve he began living a contemplative life in the hollow (the stock) of a great oak tree.
• He was a Carmelite monk and he lived in Aylesford for some years.
• His feast day is 16^th of May