January 29th: St. Gweltaz

January 29th: St. Gweltaz (aka Gildas 'the Sage' or 'the Wise' or Giltas)

Gildas was born around 494 in Scotland, possibly in Strathclyde, and was mentioned in a

letter of St. Columban to Pope Gregory the Great.

He was the author of a sermon 'De Excidio and Conquestu Britanniae' (On the ruin of

Britain) in which he criticised various rulers including Constantin (of Devon and Cornwall),

Vortiporius (of Dyfed, South Wales), Magiocunus (of Gwynedd, North Wales, and

Anglesey), Aurelius Caninus and Cuneglasus.

In other writings Gildas promoted the monastic life, although with rules less austere than

that of his contemporary St. David.

Three 'Lives of St. Gildas' have been preserved, two dating from around the mid C11, and

the third from C13.

It is said that he was the son of Caunus or Nau, a king of Scotland, and had four brothers

(one of whom, Huail or Cuillius, is said to have rebelled against King Arthur and was killed

by him) and a sister, Peteona/Peteova.

Possibly a metal-worker (he presented a bell to the Abbess Brigitte of Kildare), Gildas was

initially a disciple of St. Ildut of Llantwit Manor in Wales, was ordained priest, visited

Ireland, and went as a missionary to the north of Britain, before, at the age of 30, he and

others, including Samson de Dol and Pol Aurelien, came to Armorica (aka Letavia/Llydaw).

There they established a monastery (St. Gildas de Rhuys) and a hermitage (at Blavet).

When Gildas died on the island of Houat, his Cornish disciples wanted to take the body

home with them, but the ship was shipwrecked, although the body survived and was

retrieved by monks of St. Gildas de Rhuys, and buried at the monastery church.

He is called upon to help fight insanity and rage, and is also known as the protector of

horses.

Holy Sophia, God’s companion at creation,

instruct this follower of the Way

with the holy fire of love

and the blessings of discernment.

Divine Wisdom, fill us with spiritual hunger;

and be our mentor as we grow and gain knowledge;

that in all our wanderings

we may find a spark of heaven here on earth.

Amen.

(Adapted from a prayer by Paul Peter Jesep 2011)