St. David of Wales –Image: NNDB
(CNA) Saint David is remembered as a missionary Bishop and the founder of many Monasteries during the 6th century United Kingdom, Wales.
Saint David’s conception is believed to have occurred as a result of rape–a detail that seems unlikely to have been invented by later biographers, his mother, Saint Non (or Nonna) may have been the daughter of Lord Cynyr of Caer Goch, according to Fr. Harry Allagree Blogger of ‘The Good Heart’ who gave birth to him atop of a cliff during a storm.
Becoming a renowned teacher and Priest, David was elected Bishop of Menevia, an important port city, linking Wales and Ireland in his time.
Twelve monasteries have their founding by Bishop David, who developed a reputation of strict asceticism. St David’s Cathedrial stands on the site of a monastery that he founded in Wales, Pembrokeshire.
It is believed that Bishop David, lived to be very old and died somewhere around 589, other traditions place his death at 601, his last words to his followers were reportedly:
“Be joyful and keep your faith and your creed. Do little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path our fathers have trod before us.”
Saint David of Wales, was Canonized by Pope Callistus II in 1120
In 2010 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during his visit to Wales, spoke of today’s Saint of the Day and said:
“Saint David was one of the great Saints of the sixth century, that golden age of Saints and missionaries in these isles and he was thus a founder of the Christian culture which lies at the root of modern Europe. David’s preaching was simple yet profound: his dying words to his Monks were, ‘Be joyful, keep the faith and do little things.” It is the little things that reveal our love for the one who loved us first (1st John 4:19) and that bind people into a community of faith, love and service. May Saint David’s message, in all its simplicity and richness, continue to resound in Wales, drawing the hearts of its people to renewed love for Christ and His Church.”
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- Full Salute here of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
to Saint David of Wales