St. David of Wales

Saint David of Wales

Bishop & Confessor

David was born to a royal family in Wales, in the late fifth or early sixth century, and many sources claim that he was related to King Arthur himself. David was ordained a priest, and spent many years as a hermit before returning to the world as a missionary to the Britons. David founded several monasteries, and either established or restored a chapel at Glastonbury, where St. Joseph of Arimathea had founded Glastonbury Abbey many centuries before. In the mid-sixth century the Synod of Brefi was held in Wales. At this council David preached so powerfully against Pelagianism, while working many miracles, that he was made a reluctant bishop. At his request David was given a remote diocese where he could maintain some solitude, though he did convene a second synod to further condemn the Pelagian heresy. David died at a venerable age, most likely in the year of Our Lord 601, and is hailed as the patron of Wales. For centuries, as mentioned by Shakespeare, the Welsh have worn leeks as a symbol of St. David, commemorating a battle in which the Welsh wore leeks to identify themselves, possibly on the advice of St. David himself.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for March 1st

AT ROME, two hundred and sixty holy martyrs, condemned for the name of Christ. Claudius ordered them to dig sand beyond the Salarian gate, and then to be shot dead with arrows by soldiers in the amphitheatre.

Also, the birthday of the holy martyrs Leo, Donatus, Abundantius, Nicephorus, and nine others.

At Marseilles, the holy martyrs Hermes and Adrian.

At Heliopolis, in the persecution of Trajan, St. Eudoxia, martyr, who, being baptized by bishop Theodotus and fortified for the combat, was put to the sword by the command of the governor Vincent, and thus received the crown of martyrdom.

The same day, St. Antonina, martyr. For deriding the gods of the Gentiles, in the persecution of Diocletian, she was, after various torments, shut up in a cask and drowned in a marsh near the city of Cea.

At Kaiserswerth, the bishop St. Swidbert, who, in the time of pope Sergius, preached the Gospel to the inhabitants of Friesland, Holland, and to other Germanic peoples.

At Angers, St. Albinus, bishop and confessor, a man of most eminent virtue and piety.

At Le Mans, St. Siviard, abbot.

At Perugia, the translation of St. Herculanus, bishop and martyr, who was beheaded by order of Totila, king of the Goths. Forty days after his decapitation his body, as pope St. Gregory relates, was found as sound and as firmly joined to the head as if it had never been touched by the sword.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.