Welsh Journals

A CH L. I. C. & M. I. e^KK&D Mi^D^IQ frfcft]^£$J?ffi. The Messenger of the Catholic Church, (Cambro Breton Mission), LLANRWST, North Wales. Se. I. 12th September 1909. No. 4. *fa *fa fa *fa *fa fa fa *fa fa* fa* •&* *$• *$* *$? *&* •$* ^ *$* *&* "$* fa fa* fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa We have just had the pleasure of visiting both Gwytherin and Holywell.—The latter place (in Flintshire) is even now. famous, on account of the still miraculous Well that sprang up there, on the very spot where St. Winefride (or Gwenfreioi), the gentle Welsh Virgin, was savagely beheaded by Prince Caradoc. And I was very glad to see that at least one Welsh Saint is still being honoured in Wales,—although, alas ! not much by the Welsh people themselves !—But, as regards Gwytherin, which is situated in our own Mission district ''and lies hidden among the Denbighshire hills, seven miles to the west of Llanrwst), is it not true to say that this village is altogether forgotten, even by St. Winefride'1 s devoutest clients? Still, was it not here that our Saint spent the best years of her long life of confessorship, and that, after her second death (650), her holy body was laid to rest in the convent churchyard ? What, then, are we going to do for her here ? In days gone by, Gwytherin must have been, as is Holywell to-day, a great place of pilgrimage, whither our forefathers would come and pray, with faith and confidence, to St. Winefride and to a great many other holy people who had lived and were buried there. Now, however,—apart from three or four little monolithes and an oak-chest, 'which are called after her name,—St. Gwen has nothing there that recalls her to our Qimd and our devotion. Is it not time that we, in the Vale of Llanrwst, wake up and do something for St. Winefride, the great Patroness of our little Mission ? We have got uer statue in our Church ; but now, we want people to have recourse to her powerful pro¬ tection and to imitate her virtues : the revival of this ancient Catholic devotion would certainly be an earnest and promise of the renewed vitality of the old Faith in this part of dear old Wales... . St. Winefride, most admirable Virgin, even in this unbelieving generation still miraculous, pray for Wales ! 0 blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God and our own most gentlejQueen and Mother, look down in mercy upon Wales thy Dowry ! Jesus, Son of the uvmg God and Eedeemer of the World, give back the Faith to Wales ! G.M. TEBBAOL, O.M.I.