The Miracle of Mamhilad.

The Life of St Illtud, now in the British Museum in the Cott Manuscript mentions he was Breton and a great nephew of the holy Saint Germanus of Auxerre. (Vespasiab A XIV) \He was known to be very warlike and physical and heard a lot about Britain from his British mother. He resolved to go there and to join a war band, possibly of his kinsman Athrwys,He was given an excellent education in all seven sciences , was baptised and catechised and studied elementary science , but then he decided to go to war and break of his studies, appearing in Britain at the court of the chieftain Paulinus Paelin, and his war leader, Arthrwys.They treated him well, as he was a good companion , learned and a good governor. He was one of the most intelligent of all the solders and became a leader in King Paulinus' household.

One day King Paulinus took the royal household to hunt over the land belonging to St Cadoc, and he was rude enough to send a message to the Holy Abbot Cadoc, that if he did not provide them all with dinner, he would take it by force. Cadoc was surprised at the tone of the request, but nevertheless sent them all dinner. The household sat down to dine, but because of the sacrilege of their request, they were all taken ill and left but Illtyd escaped . He was far away with a hawk and knew nothing of it. Seeing the effect of the Kings disappearing household, Illtyd went to Cadoc to ask what had happened. St Cadoc told him to take of his secular dress and but on a clerical habit, and required that he serve the Creator God all his life so he could do penance for the misdeeds of his household, do God would deal leniently with him at the Judgement. Illtyd returned to King Paulinus and withdrew himself from secular services after that. He left the area and came to the River Daw in Glamorgan and left his wife after an angel commanded him to serve the King of kings, and he realised that he had to devote himself to God and gave up his wife in atonement for all those he had killed as a soldier.

He retired to the Hodnant valley. which was either at Llantwit on the sSevern or at Llanthony, named after the Hodnant in the Welsh.He became a great saint, and ended his days in Llantwit Major (Llanilltyd Fawr) This is a very interesting Church to visit, showing much early history.There is a project afoot to restore the Galilee Chapel from a ruin, to which it was reduced under Henry VIII. The land St Cadoc owned and had founded was based on his teacher , Tatheus (Meuthi-the Hermit) as Tre-feuthin-the Homestead of the Hermit.

Some time after the death of St Cadoc, he was returned to his principal monastery of Llancarfan, where his relics were revered and honoured by his sorrowing brothers.There were thirty six canons at llancarfan, like Llantwit Major a huge monastery and there were vast numbers of gardeners and also other lay brothers and sisters in his llan.

Llifris writes:
No one can relate the miracles performed by St Cadoc
It is because he is not here with his mode of speaking
Christ the Creator of the World will grant pardon
To him who write a Life with faults, named Llifris.

A powerful Saxon leader came from England, with a large body of men, intent on despoiling and pillaging in Wales . He arrived at the coast in a ship, but the clergy of Llancarfan, fled the monastery taking their treasure with them and fled from there with the reliquary of the Holy Man, and other relics , which they prayed would protect them from their pursuers and they hid themselves in a llan of St Illtyd, which readily gave protection and shelter to the followers of this holy saint. The name of the llan was St Illtyd's , in a place which became known as Mamhilad trans:The Place where the Coffin was Brought)When they had been there a short time, the Saxon raiders were also joined by Danes who had heard there were rich pickings in store.

When they saw the coffin with the Holy Saint in it at Mamhilad, they tried to lift it, first four men, then in the end many many men tried to lift it, but it would not budge, They were not able to move it at all. Then they became angry and one, more enraged than all the others, ran forward quickly and struck the coffin hard, and on being struck, it produced a loud bellowing noise like a bull, and greatly frightened the whol.e army and there was a great earthquake at Mam hilad. The coffin was deserted, the enraged soldier, induced by greediness cut of a gold pinnacle from the coffin of the Holy Man, which fell into his lap and immediately he felt as if fire was buirning his chest. Stupified and excited by the pain of the heat, he put the pinnacle back, and it firmy affixed to where it had been cut off, as if it had been soldered on safely. When he had done this the unhappy violator of the coffin died in front of the coffin, seemingly melting into the ground and the foreigners fled, and cceased to worry them.

The brothers decided to take Cadoc over the mountain to his old llan at Tre-Feuthin and here ie was safe from the maraudoing Saxons.Cadoc was lad to rest with great honour at the early site. Later many people were trained at his monastary.

 St Illtyd and St David, appear in Stained glass in this ancient church.

 The sanctuary area as seen from the nave. Originally the screen would have been erected over the arch, the rood (Crucifix would have been up there, with Blessed Mary and St John, and parishioners would have said their confessions before Easter under the rood.

Priest's entrance into the former Sanctuary at St Illtyd's Church at Mamhilad/

Entrance to porch at Mamhilad Church

The ancient font at St Illtyd's  

 The nave and Sanctuary at St Cadocs

                                        

Ancient print of St Illtyd's

 The Ancient and beautiful rood loft, which was saved from Cromwell and the Tudor wreckers. Such screens were very expensive and usually donated by a wealthy parishioner. The screen has been put at the rear of the church

St Cadoc, ddoth. Born at Newport and trained and educated at Caerwent with St Tatheus, who retired to a hermits life at Tre-feuthin. St Cadoc was the son of  King Gwynlliw and Queen Gwladys, daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog. Both his parents took Holy Orders in Old Age. Cadoc's white martyrdom took him all over Britain, even to Scotland and to Southern England and South Wales,and he even went to France during the plague known as the Yellow Fever. St Cadoc is well known in France, where an island is named after him.

St Derfel, Patron Saint of Cwmbran and the Arthur Connection

St Derfel in a stained glass window at Llanderfyl, near Bala in North Wales.














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New Statue of St Derfel,by David Lloyd, carved for the 'Ancient Cwmbran annd the Cistercian Project'. Unveiling of the new statue, showing Derfel as a soldier on his Feast Day, April 5th.

Early Life

Derfyl is recorded as being the son of Hywel Mawr ab Emyr Llydaw by Alma Poppea and the brother of Dwyfael (Iolo) or Dwywai (Myv Arch) Arthfael and Hywel Fychan. Arthfael was the original founder of the llan church of St Peter in the Moor or Peterstone, where the lighthouse still stands. Hywel the Elder (Farchog-the Bearded) is buried at Llantwit Major and both Arthfael and Dwyfael,Derfyl’s two brothers were holy men trained at Llanilltyd Fawr or Llantwit Major and later went with their cousin Cadfan to Bardsey Island-‘The Island of 20,000 saints.’

There is also a tradition from Britanny (Armorica or Roman Gaul) of another brother, St TUDWAL , bishop of Treguir, whose mother was Alma Pompea. Arthfael later became a man of great importance of the Church in Brittany.

Note how the Welsh (Romanised Celts were still supporting Roman names-Alma Poppea.)

‘GADARN’ (Cadarn)

Derfel or Derfyl is usually called ‘Cadarn’ or ‘THE MIGHTY’. We see from his upbringing at Llantwit Major, that he was a religious man and was more inclined than his brothers to fight for the right to stem the Saxon influences and invasions. The invading Saxons were pagans and it is possible he went in search of a martyrs crown, and fighting for the cross may have been his direction. Certainly the Welsh kings at that time were fighting among themselves-something which contributed to Arthur’s own death at Camlann.


Arthrwys (Arthur) was not a king but a Dux bellorum as the Romans would have called him, a warlord of noble birth-son of Uther and Welsh legends do speak of him as a foster brother of Kai (Kay) and Bedwyr (Bedivere). It is fashionable to rubbish the Prior Geoffrey of Monmouth for his romanticising this whole period into a King and a lot of mediaeval knights, but to be fair, it is also said by some scholars that Geoffrey must have had recourse to a book, which became lost in the subsequent years of Monmouth Priory’s existence, which was much depleted by the great plague.

Digression to talk about ‘Real’ Arthrys (Arthur)

One thing we do know ,though, is that Arthrwys was a Christian and fought against the Saxons at Badon (Mons Badonis) under a banner of the Virgin Mary and her Son, and won, saving those areas for Christianity for at least another fifty years.

The Second thing which has been written about, regarding the role of the Christian Arthrwys and his war band, is the ‘clearing out ‘ of the early Welsh monks at Glastonbury and their Abbot COLLEN up to North Wales, taking with them many of the ancient artefacts, some say the original mysterious Grail, the ‘Royal Blood’ of Jesus of the House of David.

Jesus and Uncle Joseph of Arimathea (Ho Rama Thea) and the Glastonbury Connection

‘And I will give the wicked for his burial, and the rich for his death; for he practised no iniquity, nor craft with his mouth.’(Isaiah 53)


1)Only a male member of Jesus’ family could have claimed Christ’s body.(so it is likely that Joseph was an uncle or family member of Christ's)

2)Only a rich and important person could have come into Pilate’s presence to claim it. Joseph had been to Caerleon (ISCA SILURUM-Usk of the Silures) before on a tin trading mission for the Emperor Vespasian and was a miner. (notice in the Bible it says that the cave, the grave in which Christ was placed was one’ Which he had hewn himself’.(Matthew 27 verse 60)

3)In the wave of persecutions following on Christ’s death, William of Malmesbury says St Peter sent St Philip into Europe with Joseph of Arimathea and the Welsh Triads tell that Archiviragus (Caractacus’ family) gave them land at Garth Madrun (Talgarth) and land for a monastic settlement at Glastonbury.(Ynys Witrin)

The family remained at Talgarth and married into the local nobility, and became part of the family of Brychan, one of the three holiest in Wales (Triads)(after which Brecon was named.)

Llan-gollen

So Collen went to North Wales with the monks and settled on Dinas Bran. Collen established his won church at Llan-gollen. We might ask why the monks were cleared out-was it because they did, in fact have the famous artefact in their possession which they wanted to preserve from the Saxons at all costs? We may never know. It is likely , however, that there was a very good reason, and certainly Teilo, Padarn, and Illtud had the title ‘Guardians of the Grail’in Welsh sources. Was the choice of the fortress Dinas Bran a reason for this removal, apart from one of safety?

In the Welsh records, Arthrwys (Arthur)was betrayed by his nephew Mordred who had the affair with Gwynhafr, his 'white' queen. So there was no romantic French Knight!Fashionable for a Norman prior to add French interest! It was this adulterous relationship which sparked natural hatred between Arthryws and his nephew not all the ‘witchy’ things thrown in to make a good story. Gwynhafr, if Geoffrey is to be believed, ended her days at St Julians in the Monastery which had been built over the site of St Julian Julianus’s monastery. It seems that Derfel would have been one of these unsung heroes of Wales who preserved the faith in these deeds.

The Battle of Camlann

This was Arthrwys’ last battle against his nephew Mordred in which both died. Arthrwys and his band’s status was so high that his memory endures. He appears to have been the only committed Christian Chieftain and his legendary fight against the Saxons was revered by all the Welsh. In fact you could argue he was brought down by heartbreak and the sin of those near to him. Arthrys clearly also had a dedicated little army, inspired by his leadership and only seven of these survived the battle.Derfel was one.


Weltmȕde

This is a German term meaning ‘tired of life’ and after the dying Arthur is carried away by boat to be buried at Glastonbury (it seems at some stage-his wife is removed there later-it seems the Saxons were Christianised by then) Derfyl was heartbroken at the death of his leader and decided to embrace an earlier vocation and return to Llantwit Major for rest and recuperation and some time as a novice .He was probably inspired by that monastery's founder, St Illtud, who himself had been converted to Christianity by Trevethin and Caerleon's Saint Cadoc, who showed him the way of war was not the Christian way. Illtud, a Breton, became a great scholar and founded his monastery at Llan illtud Fawr)

St Derfel comes to Cwmbran and establishes two holy places, 'llans'

After his early training,he quickly received his holy orders and travelled to the Eastern Valley of Gwent to begin his Llan there, living as a hermit and then in a small community.

Saint Dials

In Latin, Derfyl is known as ‘Saint DUELLUS’ and so his first Chapel, now demolished and lying under the present ex police college, near Greenmeadow was one of his very first llans. Going out on the 'mass',the mission to ‘Baptise all men in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost’, and leaving some brothers there at St Dials, he travelled on up to the Mynydd Maen and there they established another holy place, and that place became a place of pilgrimage for centuries and was much larger, perhaps in scope than St Dials.

The Chapel was a sort of L shape with surrounding buildings, probably on the site of the present Llanderfel farm , where the brothers toiled to produce food, looked after sheep ,most probably ,the llan down at St Dial’s probably producing other crops, as corn was unlikely to have grown on the Mynydd Maen(The Stone Mountain). The brothers also kept cattle and, indeed there are reports of many people bringing in their cattle for blessing ad healing when they were ill.

The Opus Dei

They must have felt very close to God up there on the mountain, close to heaven. The office of the day was often sung in the chapel-the psalms learnt by heart and often accompanied by the harp. There may have been a book of gospels but Bibles, which the church had compiled a century earlier were not in common use expensive to produce, so religious learned the teachings by heart and able to read and write down the prayers at places like Llantwit Major, which would have had one. This was a common thing with the older bards, whose memories were prodigious.

This is also the case today in monasteries that monks can remember any number of psalms, which they sing day in and day out in praise of God-and in Latin. This was the common language of the Church throughout the world, although Derfel would have talked to the people about God in the ancient British language, and evangelised and explained this.The quality of the monk Gildas' Latin is very fine, much better than St Patrick's, who always found scholarship difficult.

It must have been wonderful in the stillness of a summer evening, hearing the hymns, sung to a harp from the top of the Mynydd Maen (Often called Twm Barllwm)with the sounds of the sheep and cattle in the background, looking way over to the River Severn (Roman River Sabrina-Celtic ‘Hafren’)When animals or people were sick, they consulted Derfel's monks. St Illtud his teacher was a renowned farmer and agriculturalist and also taught farming to his students, something very important for survival.Illtud had a gift for crop growing and animal husbandry, and Derfyl now passed all this on in his ministry to the people of Cwmbran.

Llanderfyl, North Wales

Derfyl’s brothers Dwyfael and Arthfael were both by now on the Isle of Bardsey, and families were very strong in Wales. It is likely then, that some of the brothers moved up from Llanderfel in Cwmbran , with Derfyl to North Wales, near Bala, where they established another llan. Here they did just that and it is from this St Derfyl’s now Anglican Church that you can see the tired and battle weary , broken hearted Derfyl being presented to the Virgin and the Child Jesus as an icon of the Church.(see above)

The Meaning of the Imagery of the Virgin

(The Old Testament describes the Ark of the Covenant which represented God as containing

1.The ROD OF AARON, showing the HIGH PRIEST

2. GOD’S WORD in the 10 Commandments tablets.

3) An URN with THE MANNA the physical food which God sent to save the Israelites from Death.

The Ark of the Covenant was destroyed when the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed by the ROMANS as foretold by Jesus. It has never been found. This was because the 'New Ark' had arrived.With the 3 o'clock Crucifixion and death of our Lord, there was thunder and lightning and the 'veil of the temple' was torn in half, symbolising that the barrier had gone between earth and heaven. The Church had been established and Chris's teaching was on the earth to point people to God.

New Ark

The human girl, Mary was a Vessel of God and carried in her womb, the ‘New Ark of the Covenant’

In her Womb (New Ark) was was contained

1.CHRIST THE HIGH PRIEST

2 THE WORD OF GOD as CHRIST

3 THE EUCHARIST the physical body and blood of Christ, with which he remains on earth until the 'end of Time'.(Matt 28:28 and St John 6:54-58)

Mary and Jesus, therefore are usually portrayed together in works of art. In addition this was the understanding of Mary by all at the time.

Derfyl’s ‘Ceffl’ at Llanderfyl

Like Teilo, Derfyl was portrayed as riding a stag. In the times when anything connected with Mary or the saints was dragged out of churches and destroyed, Derfyl’s statue was dragged out of both Llanderfyl in North Wales and also the statue at Llanderfyl and taken to London to be burned, and fulfilling a rather horrible prophecy. (Post on this coming soon)The Faithful of Cwmbran, and Llanderfyl supported all their ‘llans’ by offerings to God of ‘kyne, oxen and horses’ in return for the service of Derfel and his community-they were not offered to Derfel himself. It seems Derfel became a patron saint of these animals (praying for their health) in this farming community.

Last Days of Derfyl Gadarn

Approaching old age, Derfyl set out again for Bardsey with some brothers and there some Welsh writers have said he was Abbot of Bardsey when he died.(See Fisher/Baring Gould who quote Owen Jones that a place near Blaenau Ffestiniog callsed Llyd Dorfyl was his residence in his military days in that area 'Cymru' 1875, i, p 407)

Summing Up

In the early church of the Romanised Celts, people were named as saints by popular acclaim and the agreement of the Bishop of the diocese. Derfyl fulfilled all the requirements of a saint.It would have been Bishop St Teilo or St Euddogwy (Oudecceus) who declared him a Saint. St David was canonised by Pope Callixtus in the twelfth century for defending the Church's teachings and his day was kept as a principal feast throughout the Church in Europe until Henry VIII.

1.Fought for the Faith under a Christian Lord

2 He helped to safeguard the Christian tradition (and possibly more!) in with Arthryws, Bedwyr and Kai removing Collen and the Glastonbury brothers from danger (and some of those at Garth Madrun-reputedly of the family of Jesus, after Joseph of Arimathea(Ho Rama Thea)who was granted land there)

3 Had studied the Christian heritage and scriptures as taught at Llanilltyd.

4 He embarked on his ‘Green Martyrdoms’ in his missions, establishing his ‘islands’ in the manner of St Augustine of Hippo, and living in the Kingdom in the World, being a ‘Beacon of Light for Christ’ evangelising in a Life of Service to others.
He felt he had to atone for all the killing he had seen and done and hoped to build for a better humanity.

He died, shriven by the holy Church as was the practice at the time on Bardsey Island,the island of 20,000 saints which even today is difficult to visit, and where later a Benedictine Monastery was set up to pray for these saints. (Later torn down)

The Saints of the Valley

He truly is a good patron Saint for Cwmbran, and with our other surrounding patrons, Saint Cadoc (at Trevethin (Llangadog Trefeurthin)and Caerleon ,St Tegfedd of Llandegveth, St Non and St Michael the Archangel patron ofhangel of Llantarnam, one of which we can be proud.

Early Welsh Poem - (I dedicate it to St Derfel)Quoted from 'Celtic Spirituality (Welsh Poems)from 'The Classics of Western Spirituality (Oliver Davies-published by Paulist Press-Wonderful book!)

The first word I say
In the morning when I rise
'May Christ's Cross be my armour about me'

I shall put on the Lord's Protection today
A sneeze I hear
It is not my God;I will not believe in it

I shall arm myself splendidly,
And not believe in superstition, for it is not right.
He ,who created me will give me strength.

My mind is set on a journey.
My intent to put out to sea
A beneficial plan,a gift it will be.

A crow shall raise its wing.
Intending to go to Rome.
A beneficial plan it will be fine.

Saddle the bay mare with white nostrils!
Eager to run, with a rough coat
King of Heaaven, we will need God's aid.

Earth's company is burdensome, and thick the briar's leaves
Bitter the drinking horn of sweet mead.
Lord of Heaven, smooth out the way of my journey.

O Royal Offspring, Victorious Redeemer!¬
Peter Head of Every Nation
St Brigid, bless our journey! (excerpt from a Welsh poem)

Saint Gwladys a Saint of Newport - and Gellligaer

St Gwladys of Newport and Gelligaer





St Cadoc Stained Glass Window from St Mary's Catholic Church on Stow Hill, Newport.

This post is best read in connection with 'Big Bad Gwynlliw'-the post about how this great Newport Sinner and King became a saint of the Church by repenting and giving himself to God.

Saint Gwladys we know, was one of the family of Brychan Brycheiniog. Brychans family descended from Irish and from the descendents of Joseph of Arimathea.He had many children and grandchildren,of which many became saints of Wales.

Gwladys was said to have been very air and beautiful and Gwynlliw, Chieftain of Glwyssing and Gwent fell deeply in love with her. Under the post about the real Arthur, we find that Gwynlliw carried her off and ran into Arthur, Kai and Bedwyr. Arthur wanted to carry her off himself but his companions restrained him. It seems Arthur was an adopted brother of his companions but did not understand the customs of that land or that Gwynlliw outranked him.

Gwladys no doubt was forced into marriage, according to one hagiographer but the account of the Monk of Gloucester ,who wrote another hagiography in later times, there is no mention of this. However, we know that with her saintly son, who became one of the great saints of Wales, and Guardians of the Grail, that this must have been the Will of God. It is possible that Gwynlliw married Gwladys on the way back to the Newport area from Talgarth where the Brychan family had their HQ and there is no doubt at all that Gelligaer became important to Gwladys, either because she knew it as a child or because it had some special significance for her. Al(who has sent me some information and some fab pics) says it feels the place where Capel Gwladys was built was a the top of the mountains at Gelligaer.

There is another post 'The Children of Gwynlliw' in this blog series which tells of Gwladys Children Cadoc, Cynydir, Cyfiw, Maches etc. There is no doubt she had much heartache with the death of her daughter Maches by Saxons at Llanvaches. Her remains are in the Church of St Tathan(and Stephen) in Caerwent parish church.

She remained at Llanfair (the little Church of Our Lady on Stow Hill)following Gwynlliw's conversion to the faith following his dream. She had Cadoc catechised Gwynlliw who repented of his bandit ways and settled down as a monastic, while he supervised his brothers who were all ruling different areas of Gwent. It is interesting to know that the little church at Michelston y Fedw near Castleton contains an ancient font today, from this time and that the font in Llanhilleth church dates from this time too. Might Cadoc have been baptised in a similar font? Details of Cadoc's baptism are in posts about him.

Gwladys' Story

Gwladys is a central strong woman in the centre of the profiles of all her children and her husband. We know that Gwynlliw loved her. She and Gwynlliw used to bathe naked in the cold water of the River Usk to curb their desires. In the early years of the church Chstity was a strong part of the message-in fact even amongst married people who had ceased having children. For a while she and Gwynlliw lived together as religious at Llanfair on Stow Hill in Newport(not called that then)where he had seen his vision and been comanded to build his chapel. This Chapel is still part of St Woolos Cathedral today after you enter the tower, you can see the original church , which has been upgraded through the ages and even houses the effigy of a Knight of the Holy Sepluchre and a Crusader in more recent times.Gwnlliw's burial site is also still there as well now in the nave.

The whole story of St Woolos is still to come in a Soundeseeing tour of St Woolos in Newport.

At some point, Cadog seems to have suggested that his Mother retire to Pont Ebbw at Bassaleg and retuire with her ladies to the life of a nun.People believed Jesus was coming soon and this might have been why, but also Gwynlliw may have developed a disease of some kind and it may not have been safe for her to stay. No matter, she retired to her little monastery at the foot of the Hill at which Bassaleg Church now stands.



Following the death of Gwynlliw (St Cadoc and Dubricius being in attendance)Cadoc it is believed retired to Gelligaer where another Church and 'llan' no doubt built in her memory. Here she died but it is believed her body returned to Newport to be buried at her church at Bassaleg. A Capel y Bedd existed at Gwladys Church at Bassaleg until fairly recent times. Sir Richard Hoare is meant to have sketched it, and Sir Joseph Bradney mentioned it.

Below see Al's stunning pictures (copyright)of Capel Gwladys at Gelligaer



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St Gwladys Dedication of the Catholic Church in Rogerstone. Risca

The influence of this kindly and much loved saint and mother is the patron of the newer Catholic Church at Risca which has been dedicated to her and Masses said each week.A woman who made the best of the bad event, an abduction, turned her husband around, brought many children up, not only in the Christian faith but as great saints, converted her husband out of love,embracing the life of a religious and finally creating a new chapel and dying in the faith at Gelligaer. Truly an inspirational saint for the people of Rogerstone and Risca-and Newport and the rest of Gwent/Monmouthshire.She is one of the 'Holy Women' of the Church.

So who was Cadoc??? Gwynlliw's son. Another great Traveller!

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St Cadoc's Church in the centre of the Roman Fort of Caerleon
St Cadoc was a native of Gwent, born in the early part of the sixth century, the son of Gwynllyw ap Glywys, a princeling of Gwent who founded St. Woolos Church in Newport.

St. Cadog the Wise was one of the greatest of the Welsh Saints. He was, as we have seen, the eldest son of King Gwynllyw Farfog (the Bearded) of Gwent. He was born at Gwynllwgat Bochriwcarn in Gelligaer, around 497, and baptised "Cadfael" by St. Tathyw where he was sent,at a young age, to be educated by this Irish saint at his monastery in Caerwent. Later, he left to become a wandering hermit in Penychen, the Kingdom of his uncle, Pawl(Paul). His presence was reported to the King by a swineherd whose pigs, Cadog had disturbed. King Pawl presented his nephew with the valley where these pigs fed, and here the young saint built his famous monastery of Llancarfan. Cadog stayed there for many years doing good works, but eventually he left for Ireland to study under Carthagh at Saighir in Eire fro three years..
Cadog eventually returned to Wales with several Irish followers, including his great friend, St. Finnian, They settled at Llanspyddid by Y-Gaer in Brecon (Brycheiniog)where Cadog learnt Latin from an Italian mentor named Bachan. While at Llanspyddid, a great famine raged in the countryside around, but the Welshman saved his followers from starvation by observing a mouse which led him to a secret grain store. Eventually, Cadog's maternal grandfather, King Brychan (Brecon)Brycheiniog, gave him the church at Llanspyddid and the saint left Brachan there as Abbot while he moved on to Llangadog in Dyfed.
Here he was constantly harassed by a local lord named Sawyl Penuchel (the Arrogant) One day, while Cadog was out tending to the needs of the poor, Sawyl and his men raided Llangadog and stole all provisions. Cadog had his revenge though. His monks pursued Sawyl's Warband, humiliated them by cutting off their hair while they slept and then enticed them into a marsh where they all drowned. St. Illtud, an officer of King Pawl of Penychen, was, similarly, converted to Christianity by Cadog when his men stole from the saint and were swallowed up by the earth! Obviously Cadog had a lot of his father’s inclinations.
Cadog soon decided it was time to return to his original foundation at Llancarfan. He found the monastery in ruins and the monks all gone; however, Finnian and his fellows worked hard to restore the holy place for their friend. At this time, the ageing King Gwynllyw passed away and Cadog became monarch of his father's domain. He soon inherited Penychen too. The saint, however, did not allow his secular responsibilities to interfere with his vocation as a Christian.
St. Gildas was made Abbot of Lancarfan for a short while, when he visited Cadog there. The King-Abbot wished to travel North to spread the word of Christ, so left Gildas in charge. The two saints retired to the Bristol Channel. Cadog to Ynys-Barren (Barry Island) and Gildas to Ynys-Echni (Flatholm), though they often met up together for prayers. Gildas eventually moved on to Ynys-Witrin (Glastonbury) and Cadog, along with some of his entourage, appear to have travelled to Brittany, probably to escape plague in Wales. They stopped off in Cerniw (Cornwall) on the way. Cadog visited his aunt, St. Keyne, on St. Michael's Mount and founded a chapel at Harlyn near Padstow. In Brittany, he settled on the Ile de St. Cadou in the Sea of Belz. While he was away, the Synod of Llandewi Brefi was held back in Wales, at which St. Dewi (David) was proclaimed Archbishop of Wales. Cadog was furious and relations with the monastics of Dyfed were soured from then on. While sojourning on the continent, Cadog made pilgrimages to both Rome and Jerusalem.
We have more details of time spent in Brittany. He settled there on an island in the Etel river, now called L'Ile de Cado, where he built an oratory, founded a monastery and devoted himself to spreading the Gospel.
This monastery became quite important, although this may have occurred after his time. According to legend, the island was invaded by some pirates who destroyed the monastery and Cadoc was forced to leave.

He had founded another small monastery at Barry , where he was a soul friend of the Irish Saint Barruc who had arrived there from Ireland on a white martyrdom. Cadoc’s small church was nearby and idyllic next to the sea looking out to the Island of Echni (Flat Holm) where many saints were buried and where there was said to be another monastic settlement. Islands were very holy places to the Celts and King Tewdrig wanted to be buried there, but died at Mathern (Merthyr Tewdrig) as we know. He had founded another small monastery at Barry , where he was a soul friend of the Irish Saint Barruc who had arrived there from Ireland on a white martyrdom. Cadoc’s small church was nearby and idyllic next to the sea looking out to the Island of Echni (Flat Holm) where many saints were buried and where there was said to be another monastic settlement. Islands were very holy places to the Celts and King Tewdrig wanted to be buried there, but died at Mathern (Merthyr Tewdrig) as we know.
Back in Wales once more, Cadog clashed with several of his fellow monarchs. As the country's High-King, Maelgwn of Gwynedd insisted on tribute from Gwynllwg and sent his officers to collect it. When these men kidnapped the daughter of Cadog's steward, however, they were pursued by the people of Gwynllwg and several were killed or injured. Maelgwn almost invaded Gwent as a result, but Cadog was able to curb his temper. The warband of Maelgwn's son, Rhun Hir (the Tall), once burnt down Cadog's dairy and the young King was obliged to plead for forgiveness and make appropriate compensation. When Cadog's ) uncle, Rhain Dremrudd (Red- Faced), became King of Brycheiniog, he immediately took to using his power by raiding nearby Kingdoms. Gwent suffered along with the rest, but the locals managed to capture King Rhain and would. have put him to death had his nephew not intervened.
Around AD 564, the ageing St. Cadog caught the wanderlust again and spent some time revisiting Ireland. He later returned to Llancarfan, but quickly handed the monastery over to his disciple, Enlli. He then left for Beneventum, which is probably to be identified with Bannaventa (Weedon) in Northamptonshire (Calchfynedd) on the very edge of Saxon territory. Here he was elected Abbot of a large body of monks. The city was in ruins, but Cadog inspired the inhabitants to set about rebuilding it. In thanks, they created him their first Bishop. On 24th January AD 580, however, the place was invaded (by Saxons ) and Cadog was run through with a spear and martyred in his own church. For many years the invaders would not let the British claim his body, but eventually he was transferred to Llancarfan where he now lies buried. His memorial may have found its way to Llandefaelog Fach, where a now lost stone was once to be seen inscribed with the name "Catvc". Having no heirs, Cadog had made arrangements for his Kingdoms to be left to King Meurig of Gwent, the husband of his young aunt.
He was martyred there at the hands of the Saxons, and his relics were transferred to Llancarfan. The most important source of information is the Life of Cadog written by Lifris about 1100, which is the longest and most significant of the Welsh Lives. This is underlined by the fact that Lifris was abbot of Llancarfan. In addition reference is made to Cadoc in the Life of St. Samson, written early in the eighth century, and in the Life of St. Gildas, written in the tenth century. He also figures in the Life of St Tathan and the Life of Gwynlliw in the Collection of the Lives of the Cambro British Saints (avail Amazon ) Although the Lives contain the numerous portents and miraculous happenings of the early Medieval tradition which were considered a necessary element in the accounts of the saints, it is clear that much of the material reflects genuine traditions. In Wales there are at least fifteen dedications to the saint apart from Llancarfan. Some occur close to his monastery in the Vale of Glamorgan, like Llanmaes and Pendoylon. The greatest number are found in Gwent, obviously linked to his possible birthplace, but spread as far as Gower in the west and Llangattock in Powys in the north. Here are some of the ancent ones.
St Cadoc’s Church in Caerleon, and St Cadoc’s Hospital. This foundation obviously is the best known. Caerleon was where Gwynlliw and Gwladys would have lived before their conversion and where they were visited by Tathan. So it is likely Cadog may have been born here. The ancient foundations of the monastery were within the boundaries of the fort, unlike the Church of Julius Julianus and Aaron, bot outside the fort.This Church was originally built over the Temple of Jupiter in the centre of the town.
Llan gattock ibon avel
St Cadoc’s, Trevethin, Pontypool.
Llan gattock near Usk
Llangattock Lingoed
Llangattock Penrhos
There are also dedications commemorating his work in Scotland at Renfrewshire at Newton Mearns, and at Cornwall.

It is worthwhile remembering all such early foundations were also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A Prayer of St Cadoc

‘Persevere as ye have begun, that ye may be crowned when ye are about to have a crown; be therefore crowned. Do not ye see that the day of this world is passing away and that the powerful men are discouraged as if they had never been comforted? What is secular power with regard to true blessedness but the greatest delusion?’ they are deluded who love such things. They live for today not being about to live for the morrow.What unhappiness and how great their misery if they lose heavenly things in darkness! Furture inhabitants of heaven, ye will not lose the joys of the heavenly country, and being just ye will be on the right side. Ye may recollect mention o the saying of the supreme judge, who wil deliver the sentence on those who are judged ‘Come ye blessed children of my father, receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world!’

Moving words that are just as breathtakingly relevant today as then! From the sixth century to today!
The Wisdom of St Cadoc
Without knowledge, no God.
No man is the son of knowledge if he is not also the son of poetry.
The best of attitudes is humility;
the best of occupations, work;
the best of sentiments, pity;
the best of cares, justice;
the best of pains, that which a man takes to make peace;
the best of sorrows, sorrow for sin;
the best of characters, generosity.
Truth is the elder daughter of God.
No man loves poetry without
loving the light,
nor light without truth,
nor truth without loving God.
The best of patriots is the man who tills the soil.
No man is pious who is not cheerful.
There is no king like him who is king of himself.
Loving is Heaven; hatred is Hell.
Conscience is the eye of God in the soul of man

Lovely words!

Home again! Back to the grind from the lovely land of Cornwall

Due to school terms being so peculiar this year, we sadly had to come back today and arrived on the m5 on our holiday so that our son could go back to school tomorrow. The weather had been variable and downright icy at times, but it was mainly the wind and generally was not too bad.I managed to find a Church of St Cadoc in a Cornish Book of Saints and found the following information about St Cadoc, son of Gwynlliw and Gwkadys mantioned below and supporting the contention there was a cell of St Cadocs on the site of the present Parish (Anglican ) church at Caerleon. This was originally a basilica and Temple of Jupiter.

Enya Kennerly writes:

The life of Saint Cadoc or Cadog has come down to us in a legendary form. The historians agree however that he was a real person, the son of Gwynllyw, a Welsh prince, and of Gwladus, the daughter of Brychan of Talgarth. He lived a hermit's life, as befitted a Celtic monk, but later started missionary work, preaching in a large area in Wales and Brittany. E. G. Bowen has pointed out that the word saint in the Celtic areas really meant a hermit or monk, not necessarily a saintly one. So, we do not know any facts about Cadoc's character. He founded the monastery of Llancarfan in Glamorganshire, which became the centre of satellite houses or cells. It was usual in Wales of that period that founders of religious communities were sons of princeling or chieftain families and that this kind of foundation stayed in the hands of the same families for quite long periods, the leadership becoming hereditary.

"The family of Llancarfan", as J. Conway Davies calls it, exerted its influence in Glamorgan and Gwent in both religious and political matters. The members of the family had special relations with the chief Welsh lords of Glamorgan. One of these was Iorwerth ab Owen, lord of Caerleon, who married Angharad, daughter of bishop Uthryd of Llandaff (1140-48) who most probably belonged to the Llancarfan family. This relationship may have led to the founding of the Abbey of Caerleon and here we may also have the basic reason for the building of a memorial church to Cadog in Caerleon-even if a cell had existed already in the lifetime of the saint, six hundred years before.'

Nevertheless archeological evidence for this Abbey is problemmatical. Cadoc was a very potent Saint and made seven pilgrimages to Rome and also to Jerusalem. It is possible St Julius Julanus Church was based on the South side of the river and St Aarons on the Llanhennock road where it comes into Caerleon. However, it is possible that this small chapel of St Cadoc becme the centre ofthe ancient monastery of Caerleon as there is speculation that Gwynlliw and Gwlady's base was in this magnificent Roman city, and there was a big church in Caerleon at the time when Dubricius/Dyfrig was senior bishop. Nevertheless, this is something for a detailed study, but interesting to find St Cadoc sites in Cornwall!!

Tomorrow I will write about St Nectan. His waterfall has recently been reopened where he is buried and he is another of these Celtic hermits. The waterfall, though a climb is very much worth while.

Big bad Gwynlliw

Big Bad Gwynlliw-the Great Sinner of Newport,
And the Saintly Gwladys of Brycheinog.

When Dyfrig was Archbishop of Caerleon, Glywys-(Glaoo-iss), a local British chieftain governed one of the districts of Gwent. When he died, his land was divided between his sons, but only one Gwynlliw Farfog (The Bearded) was able to fight off marauders and keep the kingdom intact. He exceeded all his brothers in nobility and prowess in battle and was such a worthy prince, and ruled so well that peace was established throughout the district all his life. He was based in Caerleon, which was still a magnificent city.

After a while, Gwynlliw (Gwinn-thloo)wanted to marry, and found a bride in the beautiful Princess Gwladys born at Gwynllwgat Bochriwcarn in Gelligaer, around 497AD ,daughter , granddaughter or niece of King Brychan of Brycheiniog (Brecon).By some accounts, the gentle and noble Lady Gwladys was destined to be a nun, but driven by her beauty, Gwynlliw is said to have actually carried her off and forced her to marry him. They had a noble son, Cadoc, who was a very holy and good person to whom the Church (and hospital)at Caerleon was later entrusted in a dedication in preference to St Julius Julianus of whom memories had begun to fade. Cadoc’s Church was built on the site of a Temple of Jupiter in the centre of the city.Many Gwent Churches are dedicated and protected by him spiritually.

St Cadog. Catwg, Cadoc, Cadfael their son

Cadoc (baptised "Cadfael" by St. Tathyw)and Gwladys, horrified by Gwynlliw’s piratical onslaughts into the Usk(Wsg), begged his father with Tathyw of Caerwent) to think of his immortal soul, whenever he committed murder and piracy. At a young age Cadoc had been sent away to be educated by the Irish saint (Tathyw) at his monastery in Caerwent. For Gwynlliw had killed many people to achieve his peace. The saintly Gwladys and Cadoc prayed that Gwynlliw would repent of his sins and turn to God. Fred Hando writes
‘the fierce Welshman revelled in his adventures and scorned the prayers of his saintly wife and son’.

Near the mouth of the Usk (Wsg) in a creek called Pill Gwenlliw(Gwynlliw’s Creek) ,he kept a long fast boat and it was his custom to go out into the Bristol channel with his men and attack passing ships, killing the crews and stealing the cargoes!
One night, so tradition has it, he was visited by his Guardian angel, who told him to leave his worldly possessions and try to find the Kingdom of Heaven.
The angel instructed him that on the hill by the banks of the river, he would discover a white ox with a black spot between its horns. The land where he found the ox would be uncultivated and there he must live and labour. Gwynlliw and Gwladys went out to check , and discovering the white bull on the side of an ancient hill fort, where the angel had told him , he built a monastic cell on the hillside overlooking the sea on what became Stow Hill, overlooking the site of modern Newport. In ancient Welsh lore, a white bull was an other worldly creature In the Celtic world, the bull was a symbol of virility, sovereignty, and wealth. In Ancient Celtic lore, a highly ritualized "feast of the bull", always preceded the crowning of a new High King.This could have indicated a vision of a new High King of the other world, or heaven
Gwynlliw gave up his Kingship to his son, Cadoc.Listen to the new podcast on Big Bad Gwynlliw by downloading Mary in Monmouth from iTunes or rss feed.

. Detectives investigating child abuse allegations at a Jersey children's home are poised to arrest three prime suspects after bones were found in a nearby field.
Police chief Lenny Harper said swoops will take place in Jersey and on the UK mainland.
He added: "I cannot say if the bones we have found are human yet but we will have the results on Monday."
Mr Harper said interviews with 160 alleged victims from the Haut de la Garenne care home had revealed one graphic incident from the Seventies "that has caused us particular concern. There is a strong possibility that someone died as a result".
He said they had been told of serious sex abuse taking place on day trips organised by staff and there was evidence of children being forced to watch other residents being sexually abused.
Mr Harper spoke as more than 300 people joined a rally to remember the victims in Jersey's capital St Helier.
Demonstrators called for the overthrow of the island's government amid accusations a cover-up for five decades.
March 8, 2008

Hundreds of citizens have been demonstrating in Huelva outside the gates of City Hall about Mari Luz Cortes, Her body was found in the estuary of Huelva in an advanced state of decomposition.

A rally took place at 12:00 am at the gates of the Town Hall of Huelva, where inside a plenary meeting of the municipal council, headed by the mayor, Pedro Rodriguez, as well as other political leaders was taking place.

During the meeting, a five minutes of silence was observed and Edil Huelva has released a statement from the family, thanking all those who have lived through the 58 days of the tragedy of her disappearance and have looked for Mari Luz.

The most moving moment and the overwhelming emotion happened when Pedro Rodriguez wanted to talk directly to Mari Luz Cortes, "at only five years of age you are already in the marshes of Heaven".He asked her to "take care of your parents, you will need to , your brother, your grandparents and your family. "

When the meeting was over, the mayor wrote to the many media there to report that the small burial will be held on Monday, when they have conducted DNA tests and a post mortem