If you had been in Wales yesterday, Daffodils would have been everywhere, children off school, and there would have been a festive air about the place.  For the 1^st March is St David’s Day, the patron Saint of Wales.

St. David. was born in about 520. He was the son of a very wealthy Welsh Prince, but he chose not to live a life of luxury, and devoted himself to the Welsh people, by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and caring for those who lived in appalling conditions.

He had the reputation of having such a clear voice that he could be heard everywhere.   Once the Bishop of Wales called a big open air meeting.  The crowds were enormous but hardly anyone heard what the speakers were saying. Then David got up, his voice was like a sweet sounding a trumpet that could be heard by everyone for miles around. Tradition has it that while he was speaking a white dove perched himself on his shoulder.

It was thought that David favoured the monastic life as he founded the now famous Cathedral of St. David’s in Pembrokeshire where he is buried, but he only stayed there to refresh himself before he continued to travel and look after the people of Wales. 

 After he died stories grew up around David claiming healings and other miracles, but what is known about David is that his favourite flower was the daffodil and that is why it remains today Wales’s national emblem. 

Perhaps in our day and age Saints like David seem remote and we feel they have no relevance to us.   But what we must remember that David like so many other Saints gave up everything to help others less fortunate than himself.

 And surely this is what we are still called to do in our 21^st century?