Today is the feast day of St Beuno, the day on which this saint died in AD640. He is, perhaps one of Britain’s holiest men, and yet, Beuno (pronounced 'bay-no'), sadly, remains largely unknown outside Wales.
Beuno was born in Powys about AD545. Can you imagine that? A millenia and a half ago! He was the son of royal parents, well educated, and rather than pursue a carerrt in the military or politics, he chose the religious life and reputedly founded nine (or more) religious communities.
He spent many years on, or near, (the Holy Island of Bardsey), the resting place of over twenty thousand saints, so legend says. I have to admit Bardsey Sound, Ynys Enlli, and the part of the mainland overlooking the island, is one of my favourite places - a veritable 'thin place', a place of great spirituality.
Legend! A great word.
We all love stories, and stories about Beuno abound. One of them involves Winefride (later St Winefride) who had her head severed in a fit of rage by Caradoc. Beuno, half way through a eucharistic service, heard of this, went and got her body and head, took them back, covered them, and continued with the service. After the service, the cover was pulled away from Winefride and she awoke as if from a deep sleep. Her head and neck were intact, with only a thin white circle around her neck. And what of Caradoc? Legend has it that he fell down dead, on the spot, for his crime.
And there's more. During the medieval period, parents brought their epileptic children to the sacred well next to St Beuno's great monastery, for healing. Men and women seeking physical cures would also visit. After being washed with the water from the well, these sick pilgrims would then rest on, or next to, Beuno's shrine, and those that fell asleep were said to be certain of a cure. Even sick animal were brought to the shrine by farmers.
