For All The Saints

While many of us have sung these words to this well known Hymn, it is one very important saint that we remember: Dewi Sant himself;Saint David of Wales.It has always been remarkable to me how throughout the world, there are those with heritage of being:Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh have failed to allow their patrons day develop. St.Patrick's day has continued to grow, particularly in America where there are large numbers of "Irish Americans", especially in New York & Boston, yet the Welsh have not had the same degree of success. After all, when was the last time you saw a card declaring: "Happy Saint David's Day" outside of Wales; in my experience never. Why? After all even St.Patrick was born in Wales!

Today is the day that is important to all those who declare themselves welsh. In the principality itself, it celebrated with vigour, from the growing parade in Cardiff, to the Restaurants who are over-booked with groups wanting to add something special. Had this been a weekday, numerous employees throughout wales, along with college, university & school students would have enjoyed an official holiday for the first time.

The culture of Wales through music, through Literature as well language and Religion along with its history is something that needs to be encouraged and strengthened. Many churches in all Denominations continue to worship in welsh, yet the numbers are in decline. The welsh language television station: S4C has been playing a leading role in developing understanding of welsh and school children are generally encouraged to become bilingual.

So who was this saint? Not everyone accepts with comfort the title of saint, despite recognising that Dewi well deserves the title. The Roman Catholic church for centuries have had a very elaborate system of selecting their saints, while the Anglican church continues to recognise many, along with the Lutheran church do not actually create saints. This is being the case, while do all the Free Churches accept this? In theory they do not, they accept the holiness of Dewi instead, which is an example of Christian holiness that we are to work on ourselves.

He was typical of his age, that as a monk, later prior of this group of Celtic monks banned any liquid other than water; later to be referred to as: David the Water Drinker. His Stoic lifestyle was enforced upon his monks. The location of the monastery is where the Cathedral of St. David's stands today!

Very little is kept of his writings or his sermons, but a few are in existence, which shown him as a fine preacher than any welshman would be proud of. But it was not this that made the man himself, but the miracles are supposed to have happened during these times. While not all accept these as true or believable, he has continued today as the Representative of everything welsh.

But are we not all saints? According to Paul's letters we are! But what does it mean to be saintly? pure? perfect? No! It means to show the virtues of saintliness or in other words holiness.To life an exemplified life of seeking the Christian truth through the understanding of Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour; to recognise the substitution that took place upon the cross for you. To seek what is right in life. To put God as the centre of your life. To seek to do everything in the Lord's name. To adhere to his truth as it is found in scripture.

Now are you a saint? Maybe But this is a calling of virtue. Not Priests and ministers are called to it, or monks or Nuns, sometimes it is more a calling for the Laity, for to fulfil this while in "The World", but trying not to be of "The World" is a true act of holiness; therefore putting you alongside with all the saints. So for all the Saints: "Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus"