Ice sets in.Life of David serialised in Podcasts

There is a thick frost here today! Brrrrr! I have put the Life of David up in Podcasts for people to listen to to enjoy these wonderful stories-meant to be listened to with the ears of Faith from a very different society from today's, though perhaps the lascivious nature of the women of Boya and his attempts to crush the truth with force may have strong echoes today. The cruelty of such people definately has a parallel with the disgrace of the scandal at Haut de la Garenne and its innocents, as at least Boya and his magician friends are open in their desire for domination and his wife is not slow to murder her daughter-in-law herself and send her women to unsettle those who chose a different path.All have echoes today. Remember the Celtic animals have meanings -Barri returns to Ireland on a horse-a mystical animal of strength and able to carry the rider to paradise, and Brendan appears on a Dolphin. Now the dolphin's qualities are many.Pre Christian Celts told tales about the magic of dolphins. Their appearance off the shores of Ireland urged the Celts to contemplate an unknown universe – the sea. Those who could not settle to simply cogitate – Celtic seafarers held the dolphin in high regard.
It became a symbol of friendship, intelligence, and good luck. Its status of luck was likely related to the fact that the dolphin was most commonly seen on the seas when the weather and waves were calm and fair. The Celts innately understood the intimate relationship between nature and beast. Regardless, the dolphin is viewed as quite lucky indeed – and this quality combined with it's cleverness and speed in the waters made the dolphin a highly respected animal sign among the Celts.St Brendan's greeting is viewed then in friendship between the saints and luck for Barri on his way back to Ireland. We know he later did a white martyrdom and landed in South Wales in a port to which he gave his name becoming a close friend of St Cadoc, who had built a hermitage nearby at Cadoc's Town/ (Cadoxton in Saxon)

Still no sign of Madeleine McCann. All has gone silent this week and yet we are puzzled at many aspects of this case. No CCTV displayed (this was confirmed that this time it had not been wiped/accidentally deleted/not switched on etc etc.and the student said she had seen it and identified the child and the police had seen it and agreed with her)Then silence! Did someone slip up this time? Actually amazing another little look- alike child has not been brought forward to disprove the sightings as before? Perhaps they know the public are bored with the charade.I shall continue to pray for Madeleine and her family.

Wales-The Life of the Holy David by Rhygfarch

Today I began the serialisation of the podcast of the Life of the Holy David of Wales written by Rhygfarch a tenth century monk. This was obviously a Life rich in legend with amazing miracles, but must be listened to with great love and faith. Very interesting were the Celtic animal symbols and the gifts which foretold the birth of David. The Bees , the Stag and the Fish and the Serpent, who always caused trouble.
The Stag generally speaking, espeically a white stag symbolised Christ,then bees symbolised Paradise, as Hywel Dda the great King, who wrote Welsh Law and visited Rome to have it ratified writes in the Old Gwentian Law books:the 'Origin of bees is in Paradise, and on account of the sin of man, they came from thence; and God conferred this blessing on them, and Mass cannot be sung without the beeswax.' We also find in the Black Book of St David's that many tenants paid their rents in beeswax!!' The Fish (and especially the salmon-king of fish) was a symbol of Insight and great knowledge, and to eat it would transfer these credits to the person eating it.The story of David mentions Teilo and the symbol of the Pelican seen all over Llandaff, gorgeously gilded. The Pelican is a symbol of the Eucharist. It scratches and tears at its own chest to take flesh and blood for its young, and the analogy with St John 6 is obvious.

Other animals I read about, the snake and dragon symbols of infertility and always causing trouble, negative and unproductive, and yet-some missionaries used the symbol of the snake shedding its coat periodically to explain the resurrection. The Peacock too was a sign of resurrection, because after death, there is a very long time before putrefaction sets in,so perfect is the meat.

Interesting is the Gwentian link with St Non, mother of David. Llan-sant-Non became corrupted into the English Llantarnam, where the magnificent Abbey still remains a Convent for women. Did St Non come here? Well St David did spend a lot of time in his hermitage on retreat,and it was to this remote place (and it is still heavenly there!)that Deiniol from North Wales and Dyfrig of Caerleon came to him to beg him to come with them to Brevi in Ceredigion (Camarthen) and like Germanus before hin refute the teachings of Pelagius.

The site of David's cell at Llanthony is -especially in Spring and Autumn one of the most lovely and spiritual places in Gwent. Close to the Skyrrid, the Holy Mountain, David's cell was surrounded by hills. The small cell was incorporated into the larger church when the Abbey at Llanthony (an Augustinian foundation after the Norman Conquest) was built. The small original cell was reserved then taken over by the Anglican church in the sixteenth century who now administer it. Yes the cell can still be seen as a small part of the larger church. The Stained glass s modern commemorating Dewi's white dowve which landed on his shoulder at Llandewi Brefi.It still lies in the midst of glorious countryside.the area is a haven for ramblers, anglers, horse riders, and if they travel on up the valley they come over to one of the highest spots in Gwent, where they can see the whole county down to the silver streak in the distance which is the Severn. People jump off the highest mountains wearing parachutes and I must say you have the feeling you are on top of the world. The inscription on the window of the local Anglican Chapel is engraved with the beginning of Psalm 121 I will lift mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help!

If you take the road North from Aberganny to Hereford, (the fast road) you turn off at Llanfihangel Crucorney, pass the Skirrid Inn, then turn left, following the signs to Llanthony Abbey. To see it at its best, go in Autumn or Spring. It is magical.

Hope all you Welsh in Patagonia had a Happy and Blessed St David's Day!