Categories: just-life
Date: 25 January 2005 18:52:06
Ahh..... the 25th January..... known through out the land of Wales as.... well, this year as Tuesday. As famous saints go St Dwynwen isn't the most well known, however she is the welsh equilivent of St Valentine and as opposed to him, I have great respect for St Dwynwen....... mainly because no-one seems to know about her!!
For those of you who are interested, she is from the 5th Century where she was one of twenty four daughters to saint and king, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. She fell in love and was intended to wed a welsh prince, but it was not to be. Because of this she committed herself to God and founded a convent on Llanddwyn island. It is said that God answers all requests made by her on the behalf of lovers, so that they succeed in finding happiness through the fulfillment of their love or being cured of their passion.
One of her famous sayings is: "Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness."
Now when you consider how much I dislike St Valentine and all that the fourteenth of Febuary has become, you may ask why I feel in is necessary to bring up St Dwyn?? Well...... while I feel that I could keep it to myself, that would not be very good as no-one would ever know what I was going on about, and I have a nasty habit of sharing cool stuff that I find.
[When I say cool, it's stuff that I find cool, not necessarily what others find cool!!!]
I've also just been told by a friend that I'm being naughty for calling her Saint Dwynwen when she should be called Santes Dwynwen........ but hey, Welsh isn't my first language and it's not the one I'm writing here either..... so whoops!!!
And as pinched off her website (as all modern Santes have):
Saint Dwyn,
We beseech thee,
Comfort lovers whoes vision is unclear.
Send mending to those with love lost.
Protect our companions.
In your name, we seek to do the same.
In your name, we choose love first.
With the love of you, of Mary, and of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
What's quite cool is the the Welsh Language Board/Bwrdd Yr iaith Gymraeg have a campain going to try and increase the knoledge about Santes Dwyn and at the end of the article on their site have some "romantic" phrases you could write in a card...... like:
Rho gusan i mi ar Ion 25!
Sws fawr
Cariad mawr
Ti'n werth y byd
Swsus
which mean, in order.........
Give me a kiss on Jan 25!! (how romantic......)
big kiss
lots of love
You're a star
kisses
So it starts poorly, but gets better.......
Of course, if Jan 25th does become as big and as comercial as Valentine's day I will be forced to hate it, as I do that dreaded day in the middle of Feb, but till then, it is a nice, lovely day that I feel we should apprciate!!!
and to finish.......
O Blessed St Dwynwen, you who knew pain and peace, division and reconciliation, you have promised to aid lovers and you watch over those whose hearts have been broken. As you received three boons from an Angel, intercede for me to recieve three blessings; to obtain my heart's desire {here you may name them} or, if that is not God's Will, a speedy healing from my pain; your guidance and assistance, that I may find love with the right person, at the right time, and in the right way; and an unshakeable faith in the boundless kindness and wisdom of God.
And this I ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
and with a sudden lump in my throat I shall finish there, feeling most emotional.... how strange.... and if you were hoping that I was going to slip up and write a name in there.... you were mistaken!!!
Cariad mawr!!!