St. David of Wales

Today, during the third week of Lent, the Church remembers the life and ministry of St. David of Wales, Bishop of Mynyw.  David was born around the year 500.  David was renowned as a teacher and preacher; he founded monasteries and churches in Wales, Dumnonia and Brittany. St David's Cathedral stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the Glyn Rhosyn valley of Pembrokeshire.

 

Around 550, David attended the Synod of Brefi, where his eloquence in opposing Pelagianism (a heresy which taught that we do not need God’s grace and can be good of our own will) inspired his fellow monks to elect him primate (first bishop) of the region. David presided over the Synod of Caerleon (the "Synod of Victory") around 569 which condemned Pelagianism.

 

David’s last words to his followers were in a sermon Sunday before his death: (in Welsh) "Arglwydi, vrodyr, a chwioryd, Bydwch lawen a chedwch ych ffyd a'ch cret, a gwnewch y petheu bychein a glywyssawch ac a welsawch gennyf i. A mynheu a gerdaf y fford yd aeth an tadeu idi", which translates, "Lords, brothers and sisters, Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us." "Do the little things in life" ("Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd") is today a very well-known phrase in Welsh.

 

David was a defender of the faith and a pastor to his people.

 

Let us pray: Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Wednesday, at 6 PM at Trinity, we continue our Lenten Series: Reconciliation, with Fr. Peter and Br. Michael of Hoy Cross Monastery, Beaumont.

 

Please remember Bishop Doyle who will be undergoing surgery for prostate cancer, and for everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550