"For all the Saints, who from their labors rest . . . . " Happy All Saints day! We celebrate this Solemnity, we celebrate not only those capital "S" Saints who have been declared venerable by the Church, but also the lower case "s" saints who went quietly to their eternal rest in the presence of Our Lord. I do not write posts about these small "s" saints precisely because they are unknown to all but those who were closest to them. But I do try to bring to light some of the lesser known capital "S" Saints.
With that in mind, today I share with you the story of St. Dwynwen (sometimes known as Dwyn or Donwen). Dwynwen was the daughter of a fifth century Welsh king. Her story, probably more legend than truth, is worthy of a Disney movie. Dwynwen was in love with a man named Maelon, but when she rebuffed his premarital sexual advances he became enraged. When Dwynwen prayed for deliverance from her situation, she was given a potion to drink which released her from her heartache. Maelon was also given the potion and was turned into a block of ice. Again she prayed, and was granted three wishes. She first wished for Maelon to be thawed, second that she should never again desire marriage and third that God should answer all her requests on behalf of lovers.
She retreated into solitude and became a nun or a hermit. She is known as the Patron Saint of Lovers in Wales - her feast is celebrated on January 25.
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