The
early part of St. David’s life is misted by time and legend. He was
purportedly the son of Sant of a princely family, and possibly related
to King Arthur. His mother was St. Non, grand-daughter of Brychan of
Breckock. Ordained a priest in due course, he retired for some time to a
monastery.
He finally settled – and here his biographers are on
surer ground – in Menivia, in the extreme southwest corner of Wales,
where he became renowned as a teacher and founded monasteries in Wales,
Dumnonia and Brittany.
He was consecrated bishop and presided
over two synods. At the Synod of Brefi, assembled to counter the heresy
of Pelagianism, which denied original sin and divine grace, he spoke
with such grace and eloquence as to completely silence his opponents.
Thereupon he was unanimously elected Primate. Obliged to accept, he
nevertheless did so under the condition that the episcopal see be moved
from Caerleon to Menivia in Wales, which was done with the permission of
King Arthur.
At his death, it is said that St. Kentigern saw his
soul being borne to Heaven by the angels. He was canonized in 1120 by
Pope Callistus II.
An interesting Welsh tradition connected with
St. David, and which persists to this day, is the custom of wearing
leaks on his feast day. This tradition dates to a battle against the
Saxons during which the bishop supposedly had the Welsh wear leaks on
their hats to distinguish them from the enemy.
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