Are you Welsh?
Are you a romantic?
If you said yes to these questions, then you should be pleased that this week we celebrate the feast of Saint Dwynwen.
'Saint who?', I hear some of you ask. Saint Dwynwen! The Welsh equivalent to Saint Valentine who lived in the early days of the Church. A fourth-century Welsh princess, Dwynwen lived in what we now know as the Brecon Beacons National Park, daughter to King Brychan Brycheiniog. Sadly she was rather unlucky in love and so she became a nun, devoting herself to prayer and praying that true lovers might have better luck than she did.
Dwynwen was the prettiest of King Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. She fell in love with a local lad called Maelon Dafodrill, but King Brychan had already arranged for her to marry another prince. Maelon took the news badly, so the distraught Dwynwen fled to the woods to weep, and begged God to help her. She was visited by an angel who gave her a sweet potion to help her forget Maelon, which happened to turn him into a block of ice.
God then granted Dwynwen three wishes. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second wish was for God to help all true lovers; her third wish was that she would never marry. In gratitude, Dwynwen became a nun and set up a convent on Llanddwyn Island, a beautiful little spot on Anglesey. Her name means, 'she who leads a blessed life'.
Incidentally, as well as being the Welsh patron saint of lovers, she's also the patron saint of sick animals. So if your budgie is unwell, you could try praying to St Dwynwen before calling the vet (we aren't making any promises, though).
So, if you didn't know before, now you do!
But we don't need to have old stories of love to teach us how to love, or teach us about commitment. Our current experience through the pandemic makes us aware of the love that still surrounds us everyday, even though we are distanced and removed from one another. Many people, and not just our NHS, front line and key workers, give up everything to help others and show us everyday that God's love is still great and working in people's lives today. Love isn't just the romantic version we think of or read about. There are so many types of love that can enrich and offer comfort to those around us.
How do you show your love for other people?
Personally, I know I don't show my love and gratitude enough. It's easy to take things for granted, but it can be easy to show appreciation and love too. What small ways, gestures do you express love to your family, friends, neighbours and wider acquaintances? Saint Dwynwen would, no doubt, encourage us to do more!
Christ taught us to love one another as He loves us - so let's give it another try and see who's faces we can put smiles on today!
