Who was St David?

David was a native of Wales and lived from 500– 589. He was later revered as a saint, becoming patron saint of Wales (in Welsh: Dewi Sant). According to tradition, St David was the son of King Sant of South Wales. After a dramatic conversion, he was ordained a priest and later studied under St. Paulinus. He became involved in missionary work and founded a number of monasteries throughout Wales, Southern England and Brittany.

The monastery he founded at Menevia in Southwestern Wales was noted for extreme asceticism. David and his monks drank neither wine nor beer - only water - while putting in a full day of heavy manual labour and intense study. The Monastic Rule of David prescribed that monks had to pull the plough themselves without draught animals, must drink only water and eat only bread with salt and herbs, and spend the evenings in prayer, reading and writing. No personal possessions were allowed: even to say "my book" was considered an offence!

 On his deathbed, St David said to his tearful monks: 'Brothers, be constant. You have freely chosen this way of life and this way of serving Jesus - follow this to the end; and whatever you have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfil'. After his death, his monastery at Glyn Rhosin became an important Christian shrine, and the most important centre in Wales. David was officially made a Saint in 1120 by Pope Callistus II. His feast day is March 1.

Church historians are clear that St David had substantial qualities of spiritual leadership. What is more, many monasteries flourished as a result of his leadership and good example. In the face of western materialism and consumption, David’s staunch commitment to monastic piety is a fine example for modern Christians seeking simplicity, order and form in their prayer life and everyday life.

What can we learn from him today?

At St David’s we take this Patron saint as an example of giving all for the Gospel, and of recognising that the call of Christ was not some simplistic quest for converts, but a wholistic call to discipleship and to making disciples.  He recognised that discipleship was not some haphazard thing, but needed significant intentionality. God did the supernatural, while humans are called to do all they can.