Monday 1 March 2010

St David, Patron of Wales: "zeal for the whole Gospel of Christ"

A bright and sunny St David's Day morning in Wales: a good time to reflect both on the present state and on  the future of the Christian traditions here. May the Lord lead us to that unity which is his will for his Church.
St David, pray for us.

"According to tradition, St. David was the son of King Sant of South Wales and St. Non. He was ordained a priest and later studied under St. Paulinus. Later, he was involved in missionary work and founded a number of monasteries. The monastery he founded at Menevia in Southwestern Wales was noted for extreme asceticism. David and his monks drank neither wine nor beer - only water - while putting in a full day of heavy manual labor and intense study. Around the year 550, David attended a synod at Brevi in Cardiganshire. His contributions at the synod are said to have been the major cause for his election as primate of the Cambrian Church. He was reportedly consecrated archbishop by the patriarch of Jerusalem while on a visit to the Holy Land. He also is said to have invoked a council that ended the last vestiges of Pelagianism. David died at his monastery in Menevia around the year 589, and his cult was approved in 1120 by Pope Callistus II. He is revered as the patron of Wales. Undoubtedly, St. David was endowed with substantial qualities of spiritual leadership. What is more, many monasteries flourished as a result of his leadership and good example. His staunch adherence to monastic piety bespeaks a fine example for modern Christians seeking order and form in their prayer life.His feast day is March 1." 
Catholic Online "Saint of the Day"

God our Father,
you gave the bishop David
to the Welsh Church to uphold the faith
and to be an example of Christian perfection.
In this changing world may he help us to hold fast
to the values which bring eternal life.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen 
[The Roman Missal]                             

Almighty God,
who in love towards thy people called thy servant David
to be a faithful and wise steward of thy mysteries:
mercifully grant that, following his purity of life
and zeal for the whole Gospel of Christ,
we may with him receive thy heavenly reward;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit
be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen
[The Church in Wales' Book of Common Prayer 1984]






2 comments:

  1. Happy Dewi Sant, Father; lucky you, to have a Solemnity in Lent! +E

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, it certainly helps!
    Thank you for your good wishes.

    ReplyDelete

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