Churches of the Day
Pictorial Thought for Today
Feb 27 - St Anne Line (d. 1601)
Summary: St Anne Line, the widow of Roger Line, who along with Anne's brother was arrested in England and banished to Flanders where he died a few years later. Anne was given charge of a house of refuge for priests, was found out, arrested, charged and executed. One of Shakespeare's enigmatic poems, 'The Phoenix and the Turtle', has been interpreted as in praise of the love of St Anne Line and her husband Roger.
Patrick Duffy explains.
A convert from Calvinism
A
nne Line was the second daughter of William Heigham of Essex, a strict Calvinist, and was, together with her brother William, disinherited for converting to Catholicism.
Some time before 1586, she married Roger Line, a young Catholic, who had been disinherited for the same reason. Roger Line and young William Heigham were arrested together while attending Mass, and were imprisoned, fined, and finally banished. Roger Line went to Flanders, where he recived a small allowance from the King of Spain, part of which he sent regularly to his wife until his death around 1594.
In charge of a house of refuge for priests
Around that time Fr John Gerard opened a house of refuge for hiding priests and asked the newly-widowed Anne Line, despite her ill-health, to take charge of it. By 1597 this house had become insecure, so another was opened, and Anne Line was, again, placed in charge. On 2nd February 1601, Fr Francis Page was saying Mass in the house managed by Anne Line, when men arrived to arrest him. The priest managed to slip into a special hiding place, prepared by Anne, and afterwards to escape, but she was arrested, along with two other lay people.
Trial
Tried at the Old Bailey on 26 February, she was so weak that she had to be carried to the trial in a chair. She told the court that far from regretting having concealed a priest, she only grieved that she "could not receive a thousand more".
Sir John Popham, the judge, sentenced her to hang the next day at Tyburn.
Execution
Anne Line was hanged on 27 February 1601. She was executed immediately before two priests, Fr Roger Filcock, and Fr Mark Barkworth, though, as a woman, she was spared the disembowelling that they endured. At the scaffold she repeated what she had said at her trial, declaring loudly to the bystanders:
"I am sentenced to die for harbouring a Catholic priest, and so far am I from repenting for having so done, that I wish, with all my soul, that where I have entertained one, I could have entertained a thousand."
Fr. Barkworth kissed her hand, while her body was still hanging, saying, "Oh blessed Mrs. Line, who have now happily received thy reward, thou art gone before us, but we shall quickly follow thee to bliss, if it please the Almighty."
The Phoenix and the Turtle
There is no foolproof documentary evidence that Shakespeare was a Catholic. But in The Times Literary Supplement of April 18, 2003, John Finnis and Patrick Martin argued that Shakespeare's most enigmatic poem, The Phoenix and Turtle, published in 1601, which up till then had defied all attempts at explanation, is in fact a memorial poem for Anne Line, the Catholic widow executed at Tyburn in 1601 and her husband, Roger.
Let the bird of loudest lay,
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herald sad and trumpet be,
To whose sound chaste wings obey.
But thou, shrieking harbinger,
Foul pre-currer of the fiend,
Augur of the fever's end,
To this troop come thou not near.
From this session interdict
Every fowl of tyrant wing,
Save the eagle, feather'd king:
Keep the obsequy so strict.
Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music can,
Be the death-divining swan,
Lest the requiem lack his right.
And thou, treble-dated crow,
That thy sable gender mak'st
With the breath thou giv'st and tak'st,
'Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.
Here the anthem doth commence:
Love and constancy is dead;
Phoenix and the turtle fled
In a mutual flame from hence.
So they lov'd, as love in twain
Had the essence but in one;
Two distincts, division none:
Number there in love was slain.
Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
'Twixt the turtle and his queen;
But in them it were a wonder.
So between them love did shine,
That the turtle saw his right
Flaming in the phoenix' sight:
Either was the other's mine.
Property was thus appall'd,
That the self was not the same;
Single nature's double name
Neither two nor one was call'd.
Reason, in itself confounded,
Saw division grow together;
To themselves yet either-neither,
Simple were so well compounded
That it cried how true a twain
Seemeth this concordant one!
Love hath reason, reason none
If what parts can so remain.
Whereupon it made this threne
To the phoenix and the dove,
Co-supreme and stars of love;
As chorus to their tragic scene.
Threnos
Beauty, truth, and rarity.
Grace in all simplicity,
Here enclos'd in cinders lie.
Death is now the phoenix' nest;
And the turtle's loyal breast
To eternity doth rest,
Leaving no posterity:--
'Twas not their infirmity,
It was married chastity.
Truth may seem, but cannot be:
Beauty brag, but 'tis not she;
Truth and beauty buried be.
To this urn let those repair
That are either true or fair;
For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
Patrick Duffy explains.
A convert from Calvinism
A
nne Line was the second daughter of William Heigham of Essex, a strict Calvinist, and was, together with her brother William, disinherited for converting to Catholicism.Some time before 1586, she married Roger Line, a young Catholic, who had been disinherited for the same reason. Roger Line and young William Heigham were arrested together while attending Mass, and were imprisoned, fined, and finally banished. Roger Line went to Flanders, where he recived a small allowance from the King of Spain, part of which he sent regularly to his wife until his death around 1594.
In charge of a house of refuge for priests
Around that time Fr John Gerard opened a house of refuge for hiding priests and asked the newly-widowed Anne Line, despite her ill-health, to take charge of it. By 1597 this house had become insecure, so another was opened, and Anne Line was, again, placed in charge. On 2nd February 1601, Fr Francis Page was saying Mass in the house managed by Anne Line, when men arrived to arrest him. The priest managed to slip into a special hiding place, prepared by Anne, and afterwards to escape, but she was arrested, along with two other lay people.
Trial
Tried at the Old Bailey on 26 February, she was so weak that she had to be carried to the trial in a chair. She told the court that far from regretting having concealed a priest, she only grieved that she "could not receive a thousand more".
Sir John Popham, the judge, sentenced her to hang the next day at Tyburn.
Execution
Anne Line was hanged on 27 February 1601. She was executed immediately before two priests, Fr Roger Filcock, and Fr Mark Barkworth, though, as a woman, she was spared the disembowelling that they endured. At the scaffold she repeated what she had said at her trial, declaring loudly to the bystanders:"I am sentenced to die for harbouring a Catholic priest, and so far am I from repenting for having so done, that I wish, with all my soul, that where I have entertained one, I could have entertained a thousand."
Fr. Barkworth kissed her hand, while her body was still hanging, saying, "Oh blessed Mrs. Line, who have now happily received thy reward, thou art gone before us, but we shall quickly follow thee to bliss, if it please the Almighty."
The Phoenix and the Turtle
There is no foolproof documentary evidence that Shakespeare was a Catholic. But in The Times Literary Supplement of April 18, 2003, John Finnis and Patrick Martin argued that Shakespeare's most enigmatic poem, The Phoenix and Turtle, published in 1601, which up till then had defied all attempts at explanation, is in fact a memorial poem for Anne Line, the Catholic widow executed at Tyburn in 1601 and her husband, Roger.
Let the bird of loudest lay,
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herald sad and trumpet be,
To whose sound chaste wings obey.
But thou, shrieking harbinger,
Foul pre-currer of the fiend,
Augur of the fever's end,
To this troop come thou not near.
From this session interdict
Every fowl of tyrant wing,
Save the eagle, feather'd king:
Keep the obsequy so strict.
Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music can,
Be the death-divining swan,
Lest the requiem lack his right.
And thou, treble-dated crow,
That thy sable gender mak'st
With the breath thou giv'st and tak'st,
'Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.
Here the anthem doth commence:
Love and constancy is dead;
Phoenix and the turtle fled
In a mutual flame from hence.
So they lov'd, as love in twain
Had the essence but in one;
Two distincts, division none:
Number there in love was slain.
Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
'Twixt the turtle and his queen;
But in them it were a wonder.
So between them love did shine,
That the turtle saw his right
Flaming in the phoenix' sight:
Either was the other's mine.
Property was thus appall'd,
That the self was not the same;
Single nature's double name
Neither two nor one was call'd.
Reason, in itself confounded,
Saw division grow together;
To themselves yet either-neither,
Simple were so well compounded
That it cried how true a twain
Seemeth this concordant one!
Love hath reason, reason none
If what parts can so remain.
Whereupon it made this threne
To the phoenix and the dove,
Co-supreme and stars of love;
As chorus to their tragic scene.
Threnos
Beauty, truth, and rarity.
Grace in all simplicity,
Here enclos'd in cinders lie.
Death is now the phoenix' nest;
And the turtle's loyal breast
To eternity doth rest,
Leaving no posterity:--
'Twas not their infirmity,
It was married chastity.
Truth may seem, but cannot be:
Beauty brag, but 'tis not she;
Truth and beauty buried be.
To this urn let those repair
That are either true or fair;
For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Memorable Proverb for today
True heroism is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,
but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
~ Arthur Ashe ~
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 27th February, 2026
Friday of the First Week of Lent
As we celebrate the Eucharist we need to remind ourselves that God expects us
to act justly and peacefully with other people as they too are God's family.
Saint of the Day: Feb 27th;St Gregory of Narek, abbot and doctor of the Church.
C/f short history of today’s saints can be found below today’s Readings and Reflection
FIRST READING
A reading from the prophet Ezekiel 18:21-28
Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?
Thus says the Lord:
'If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is
law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practised. What! Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man - it is the Lord who speaks - and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?'But if the upright man renounces his integrity, commits sin, copies the wicked man and practises every kind of filth, is he to live? All the integrity he has practised shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die.
But you object, "What the Lord does is unjust."
Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust?
When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live.
He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.'
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 129 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, R/v 3
Response If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
1. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading. Response
2. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you. Response
3. My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord. Response
4. Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity. Response
Gospel Acclamation Amos 5: 14
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Man does not live on bread alone but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Or Ez 18:31
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and that the Lord God of hosts may really be with you.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:20-26 Glory to you, O Lord
Go and be reconciled with your brother first.
Jesus said to his disciples: 'If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.
But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court;
if a man calls his brother "Fool" he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him "Renegade" he will answer for it in hell fire.
'So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.
Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
'I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.'
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection Friday, First Week of Lent Matthew 5:20-26
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus calls his disciples to a virtue that goes deeper than the virtue of the scribes and Pharisees. One of the ten commandments of the Jewish Law was ‘You shall not kill’. However, the call of Jesus goes deeper than that; it looks beyond the action of killing to the underlying attitudes and emotions which lead people to kill or injure each other. Jesus invites us to look below the surface of what we do to why we do it. He calls for a renewal of the heart and mind; that is what we mean by ‘repentance’ or ‘conversion’. That deep-seated renewal that Jesus calls for is not something we can bring about on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to work that kind of deep transformation within ourselves.
A prayer that has been traditional within the church acknowledges that very clearly: ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart, and kindle in me the fire of your love’. It is a prayer I have always found myself drawn to. It calls on the Holy Spirit to recreate deep within us the love which shaped the person of Jesus; it calls on the Spirit to form in us the roots of that deeper virtue which Jesus speaks about in today’s gospel reading. This is a virtue that enables us to channel in life-giving ways those powerful emotions, such as anger, that we all experience.
The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers. http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: Feb 27th;St Gregory of Narek, abbot and doctor of the Church.
Grigor Narekatsi anglicized as Gregory of Narek; c.?950 – 1003 was an Armenian mystical and lyrical poet, monk, and theologian. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. The son of a bishop, Gregory was educated, ordained, and later stationed at Narekavank on the southern shores of Lake Van (modern Turkey). Scholars consider Gregory the most beloved and significant theological and literary figure of the Armenian religious tradition.
He is best known for his Book of Lamentations, a significant piece of mystical literature which serves as a confessional prayer book in many Armenian religious households. His works have inspired many Armenian literary figures and influenced Armenian literature in general throughout the ages. He lived in the Kingdom of Vaspurakan, a medieval Armenian kingdom, which is "notable for the high cultural level that it achieved." centered around Lake Van, is a region described "the cradle of Armenian civilization".
Little is known about his life. He was born in a village on the southern shores of Lake Van, in what is now eastern Turkey, to Khosrov Andzevatsi, a relative of the Artsruni royal family. His mother died when he was little. Khosrov was ordained a bishop after being widowed and was appointed primate of the diocese of Andzevatsik. Grigor and his elder brother Hovhannes were sent to the the monastery of Narek, where he was given religious education by Anania Narekatsi (Ananias of Narek). The latter was his maternal great-uncle, a celebrated scholar and the monastery's founder. Being raised in an intellectual and religious fervor, Grigor was ordained priest in 977 and taught others theology at the monastery school until his death. He wrote a powerful mystical version of the Song of Songs.
Whether Gregory led a secluded life has become a debate among Armenian scholars. He was very well aware of the secular world and his time, had a deep knowledge of both peasants and princes and the complexities of the world. When he died in 1003 Gregory was buried inside the walls of the monastery of Narek.
This summary was adapted with thanks from Wikipedia.
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Liturgical Readings for: Friday, 27th February, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHT Sliocht as an fáidh Ezícéal 18:21-28
An mbainim sult as bás an dochdhuine? Nach é mo mhian go dtréigfeadh sé a bhealaí agus go mairfeadh sé?
Seo mar a deir an Tiarna:
“Ach má thréigeann an drochdhuine na peacaí go léir a rinne sé, má chomhlíonann sé
mo dheasghnátha uile agus géilleadh don dlí agus don cheart, mairfidh sé go deimhin; ní éagfaidh sé. Na peacaí go léir a rinne sé ní labhrófar leis arís orthu; as an bhfíréantacht a chleacht sé mairfidh sé. An mbainim sult as bás an drochdhuine? – an Tiarna Dia a labhraíonn. Nach é mo mhian go dtréigfeadh sé a bhealaí agus go mairfeadh sé?Ach má thréigeann an fíréan a fhíréantacht, agus olc a dhéanamh, agus imeachtaí gránna an drochdhuine a bheith ar siúl aige, an mairfidh sé? Ní bheidh aon trácht ar an bhfíréantacht a chleacht sé; de bhrí gur fheall sé agus gur pheacaigh sé, gheobhaidh sé bás. “Ach deir sibhse: ‘Ní cóir iad gníomhartha an Tiarna.’
Éistigí liom, a mhuintir Iosrael; nach cóir iad mo ghníomhartha? Nach iad bhur ngníomhartha féin atá míchóir? Má thréigeann an fíréan a fhíréantacht agus peacú, éagfaidh sé dá bharr; éagfaidh sé de bharr an oilc atá déanta aige.
Arís, má thréigeann an drochdhuine a pheacaí agus déanamh mar is ceart agus mar is cóir, tabharfaidh sé a bheatha slán. De bhrí gur mhachnaigh sé agus gur thréig sé a pheacaí go léir mairfidh sé go deimhin; ní bhfaighidh sé bás.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 129 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 R v 3
Freagra Má fhéachann tú ár gcionta, a Thiarna, a Thiarna, cé rachaidh slán?
1. As na duibheagáin a ghlaoim ort, a Thiarna; éist, a Thiarna, le mo ghuí.Go n-éiste do chluasa go haireach le mo ghlór ag impí ort. Freagra
2. Má fhéachann tú ár gcionta, a Thiarna, a Thiarna, cé rachaidh slán?
Ach is leat na peacaí a mhaitheamh; ionas go riarfaí go humhal duit. Freagra
3. Tá muinín ag m’anam as an Tiarna; ar a bhriathar atá mo sheasamh.
Is foighní m’anam ag feitheamh leis an Tiarna, ná lucht faire leis an maidin.
Bíonn lucht faire ag faire leis an maidin, agus Iosrael leis an Tiarna. Freagra
4. De bhrí gur ag an Tiarna atá an trócaire,agus an fhuascailt fhairsing.
Agus is é a dhéanfaidh Iosrael a fhuascailtóna gcionta go léir. Freagra
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as an Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Matha 5:20-26 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair.
San am sin dúirt Íosa lena dheisceabail:
Óir deirim libh, mura mbíonn barr fíréantachta agaibh ar a mbíonn ag na scríobhaithe agus ag na Fairisínigh, is cinnte nach rachaidh sibh isteach i ríocht na bhflaitheas.
“Chuala sibh go ndúradh leis na sinsir: ‘Ná déan marú; agus má dhéanann duine marú beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas.’
Ach is é a deirimse libh, duine ar bith a bhíonn i bhfeirg lena bhráthair, beidh air freagairt ann don bhreithiúnas, agus má deir aon duine lena bhráthair ‘Ceann baoth’, beidh air freagairt ann don tsainidrín; agus má deir sé ‘Amadán’ leis, beidh air freagairt ann i dtine ifrinn. Dá réir sin, má bhíonn tú ag tabhairtd’ofrála chun na haltóra agus go gcuimhneoidh tú ansin go bhfuil cúis ghearáin éigin ag do bhráthair ort, fág d’ofráil ansiúd os comhair na haltóra, imigh leat ar dtús agus déan síocháin le do bhráthair, agus tar ansin ag déanamh na hofrála. An duine a chúisíonn thú, tar chun réitigh leis gan mhoill agus tú ag gabháil na slí leis, le heagla go dtabharfadh fear do chúisithe suas don bhreitheamh thú, agus an breitheamh don phóilín, agus go gcuirfí i bpriosún thú.'
'Deirim leat go fírinneach, ní thiocfaidh tú amach as sin go mbeidh an cianóigín deireanach díolta agat'.
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 1st March, 2026
Second Sunday of Lent, Year A
Lent brings us into the heart of the Paschal Mystery. The selected disciples are brought to the mountain top where they are given a vision of a transfigured Jesus talking with prophets Moses and Elijah about his upcoming death and resurrection.
Saint of the Day: March 1st; St David, abbot and bishop, and patron saint of Wales,
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Genesis 12:1-4
The call of Abraham, father of the people of God.
The Lord said to Abram,
'Leave your country, your family and your father's house, for the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.
I will curse those who slight you.
'I will bless those who bless you:
All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.'
So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 33: 4-5, 18-20. 22.R/v 22
Response May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
l. The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. Response
2. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. Response
3. Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield,
May your love be upon us, 0 Lord, as we place all our hope in you. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy 1:8-10
God calls and enlightens us.
With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy - not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace.
This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.
The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation Mt 17:5
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
From the bright cloud the Father's voice was heard '
This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen t0 him.'
Glory and praise to you, O Christ !
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 17:1-9
His face shone like the sun.
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus.'Lord,' he said 'it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.'
He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said,
'This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.'
When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear.
But Jesus came up and touched them. 'Stand up,' he said 'do not be afraid.'
And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order.
"Tell no one about this vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
________________
For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here: https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/
Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published 1966, by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
Saint of the Day: March 1st; St David, abbot and bishop, and patron saint of Wales.
St David, abbot and bishop in the sixth century. He is reputed to have founded a number of monasteries, of strict regime.
Patrick Duffy presents the traditions about David
St David is patron of Wales, where he was abbot and bishop. Several Irish saints were his pupils and he seemed to influenced monastic development in Ireland.Accounts of David's life are scarce and based on oral tradition and a 'Life' written by Rhygyfarch (11th century bishop of St David's) at a time when the Norman bishop of Canterbury Lanfranc was trying to impose Roman dedications on churches in England and Wales. Rhygyfarch was keen to impress on the recently arrived leaders the importance of the Welsh saint and was not above a little exaggeration.
Family
The tradition is that David was born at Henvynyw (Vetus-Menevia) in Cardiganshire, and that his father was a prince called Sant who violated David's mother, a nun. Norman bishop Rhygyfarch, who lived from 1057-1099 and wrote a 'Life of David' in Latin to impress the Normans, called him Sant 'holy' (sanctus by name and by merit). David is said to have been baptised by Ailbe, 'a bishop of the Munstermen', who is known to have been in Wales about that time.
At Monastic School
David studied at the local monastic school and after he was ordained priest, he went to study under Paulinus of Wales near the Brecon Beacons. He remained with Paulinus for several years and is said to have cured him of blindness. Paulinus sent David out to make his own monastic foundations.
Rhygyfarch says David founded
monasteries at Glastonbury, Bath and Leominster, but these are more likely to be Rhygyfarch's own claims to impress the Normans. But the one monastery we know he founded was that of Mynyw (Menevia) near his own birth place on the extreme south west of South Wales, facing Ireland, and now called St David's. David lived an austere life of prayer and fasting.Strict Discipline
The monastery had a most austere regime. Instead of oxen to pull the plough, the monks had to pull their plough on their own shoulders. The diet was strict - consisting of bread, bitter herbs and salt with water or a little milk. David was called Aquaticus, because he drank only water and his monks became known as the Aquatici or "watermen". Finian of Clonard and Modhomhnoc (see 13th February) both spent time at his monastery.
Resolving Disputes
When the Pelagian heresy was being discussed at the Synod of Brevi (Llandewi Brefi in Cardiganshire), David was summoned to resolve the dispute. Shortly afterwards, in 569, he presided over another Synod held at a place called Lucus Victoriae.
The Holy Land and first bishop of Menevia
Rhygyfarch says David went to the Holy Land with two other Welsh monks Teilo and Padarn and that he was consecrated Archbishop of Wales by the patriarch of Jerusalem - probably another exaggeration! He was bishop (probably not archbishop) of Menevia, the Roman port of Menapia in Pembrokeshire, later known as St. David's, then the chief point of departure for Ireland. He died around 601 but he continued to be remembered in Ireland, and he is mentioned in the Martyrology of Oengus and in the Catalogue of the Saints of Ireland.
Diocese of Menevia
The cult of St. David was approved by Pope Callistus II in the year 1120 and two pilgrimages to St David's were 'declared' to be equal in merit to one pilgrimage to Rome. The Catholic diocese of that area of Wales is still called Menevia; the bishop currently lives in Swansea.
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Memorable Saying for Today
Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things
that you have heard and seen me do. '
~ Last words of David (Dewi Sant) of Wales ~
(The phrase 'Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd' -
'Do the little things in life' - is still a well-known maxim in Wales.)
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Liturgical Readings for: Sunday, 1st March, 2026
CÉAD LÉACHTSliocht as an Leabhar Geineasas 12:1-4
Glaoch Abráhám, athair Phobal Dé.
Dúirt an Tiarna le hAbrám:
“Imigh ó do thír féin, agus ó do mhuintir féin agus ó theach d’athar chun na tíre a thaispeánfaidh mé duit. Déanfaidh mé cine mór díot agus beannóidh mé thú agus mórfaidh mé d’ainm chomh mór sin go mbeidh sé mar bheannacht ag daoine.
Beidh mo bheannacht ar an muintir a chuirfidh beannacht ort. Beidh mo mhallacht ar an muintir a chuirfidh mallacht ort.
Agus is tríotsa a dhéanfaidh ciníocha uile An domhain iad féin a bheannú.”
D’imigh Abrám amach mar sin de réir mar a dúirt an Tiarna leis.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Salm le Freagra Sm 32: 4-5, 18-20. 22. R/v 22
Freagra Tabhair dúinn do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna, de réir an dóchais a chuirimid ionat.
1. Óir is dílis é briathar an Tiarna, agus is iontaofa a obair uile.
Is ionúin leis an chóir is an ceart; tá an talamh lán de bhuanghrá an Tiarna. Freagra
2. Féach, tá súile an Tiarna ar lucht a eaglaithe, orthu sin a chuireann a ndóchas ina bhuanghrá,
chun go bhfuadódh sé a n-anamacha ón mbás is go gcothódh sé iad in am an ghorta. Freagra
3. Bíonn ár n-anam ag feitheamh leis an Tiarna: is é sin ár gcabhair is ár sciath.
Tabhair dúinn do bhuanghrá, a Thiarna, de réir an dóchais a chuirimid ionat. Freagra
DARA LÉACHT
Sliocht as dara Litir Naomh Pól chuig Timóteas 1:8-10
Glaonn Dia orainn agus soilsíonn sinn.
Bhráthair: fulaingse cruatan liom ar son an dea-scéil as ucht an chumais
faighte agat ó Dhia.Mar is é Dia a shlánaigh sinn agus a ghlaoigh orainn le naomhghlao, agus ní de bharr on ní dá ndearnamarna é ach de bharr a thola agus a ghrásta féin.
Bhí an grásta seo tugtha dúinn i gCríost Íosa ó thús aimsire ach is anois beag a foilsíodh é trí thaibhsiú ar slánaitheora Críost Íosa. Chuir seisean an bás ar neamhní agus thug chun solais an bheatha agus an neamhbhásmhaireacht trí bhíthin an dea-scéil.
Briathar an Tiarna Buíochas le Dia
Véarsa Mt 17:5
Cloiseadh glór an Athar as an scamall solasmhar:
'Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi: éistigí leis.'
SOISCÉAL
Go raibh an Tiarna libh. Agus le do spiorad féin
Sliocht as Soiscéal naofa de réir Naomh Mhatha 17:1-9 Glóir duit, a Thiarna.
Shoilsigh a ghnúis ar nós na gréine.
San am sin rug Íosa leis Peadar, Séamas agus a dheartháir Eoin, agus sheol sé suas iad sliabh ard ar leithligh. Agus tháinig claochlú air os comhair a súl: shoilsigh a ghnúis ar nós na gréine agus d’éirigh a chuid éadaigh chomh gléigeal leis an solas. Agus chonacthas dóibh Maois agus Éilias ag comhrá leis.Labhair Peadar: “A Thiarna,” ar seisean le hÍosa, “is maith mar tharla anseo sinn: más maith leat é, déanfaidh mé trí bothanna san áit seo, ceann duit féin, ceann do Mhaois agus ceann d’Éilias.”
Sula raibh an focal as a bhéal, seo scamall solasmhar ina scáil anuas orthu, agus an glór as an scamall: “
Is é seo mo Mhac muirneach dár thug mé gnaoi; éistigí leis.”
Agus le foghar an ghlóir sin, chaith na deisceabail iad féin ar a mbéal, lán d’uamhan. Tháinig Íosa chucu agus leag a lámh orthu: “Éirígí,” ar seisean; “ná bíodh eagla oraibh.” Ar dhearcadh suas dóibh, ní raibh neach ar bith le feiceáil acu ach Íosa féin amháin.
Agus ar a slí anuas dóibh ón sliabh, thug Íosa ordú dóibh: “Ná labhraigí le duine ar bith faoin bhfís seo,” ar seisean, “nó go mbeidh Mac an Duine éirithe ó mhairbh.”
Soiscéal an Tiarna. Moladh duit, a Chriost
AN BÍOBLA NAOFA
© An Sagart
