ST DYFRIG - 14 NOVEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 14th of November 

WELCOME!

SAINT DUBRICIUS (DYFRIG), BISHOP AND CONFESSOR 

[St Dyfrig] How great soever the corruption of vice was which had sunk deep into the hearts of many in the degenerate ages of the ancient Britons before the invasion of the English Saxons, God raised amongst them many eminent saints, who, by their zealous exhortations and example, invited their countrymen by penance to avert the divine wrath which was kindled over their heads. 

One of the most illustrious fathers and instructors of these saints was St Dubricius, who flourished chiefly in that part which is now called South-Wales. 

HE ERECTED TWO GREAT SCHOOLS OF SACRED LITERATURE

He erected two great schools of sacred literature at Hentlan and Mochrhes, both places, situate upon the river Wye or Vaga, which waters Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Monmouthshire. 

In this place St Samson, St Theliau, and many other eminent saints and pastors of God’s church, were formed to virtue and the sacred ministry under the discipline of St Dubricius; and persons of all ranks and conditions resorting to him from every part of Britain, he had a thousand scholars with him for years together. 

It was this great master’s first study, to cultivate well his own soul, and to learn the interior sentiments of all virtues by listening much to the Holy Ghost in close solitude and holy meditation on divine things. 

FIRST ARCHBISHOP OF LLANDAFF

He was consecrated the first archbishop of Llandaff, by St Germanus, in a synod about the year 444, and was afterwards constituted archbishop of Caerleon, which dignity he resigned to St David in the synod of Brevi in 522. 

After this, St Dubricius retired into the solitary island of Bardsey or Euly, on the coast of Caernarvonshire, where he died and was buried: twenty thousand saints (that is, holy hermits and religious persons) are said to have been interred in that island. 

The bones of St Dubricius were afterwards removed to Llandaff. 

Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Dyfrig may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.