Teilo
Saint
Sant
Feast Day in Wales
9 February
ST TEILO lived in the 6th Century and is believed to have been a cousin of St David. He was born in Eccluis Gunniau (Penally, near Tenby) and died in Llandilo Vawr, Carmarthenshire. His father, whose name was probably Usyllt, may be identified with St Issell, the patron of a church of Saundersfoot.
Teilo was educated under St Dyfrig or Dubric at Hentland, Herefordshire, and under St Paul the Old or Paulinus at Whitland, Carmarthenshire. He then ruled the monastic school at Llandaff, Bangor Deilo (named after him). In about 518, he succeeded St Dubric as Archbishop of Llandaff.
In 547 the 'yellow plague' hit Wales and Teilo fled with many of his flock first to Cornwall and then to Armorica, France, and stayed with his friend St Sampson, Abbot and Bishop of Dol. After seven years and seven months he returned to Wales and is said to have been elected to the archiepiscopate vacant by the death of his cousin David.
Sources state that Teilo was formally canonized by the Church, but no date is given. His relics are venerated in France at Landeleau (Finistère), Plogonnac (Finistère), and Saint Télo (Côtes-du-Nord). Several Church's are dedicated to St Teilo in France and the UK. Most importantly, he is patron of the Catholic church in Tenby - Holyrood and St Teilo.
Bride
Saint
Feast Day
1 February
Brigid was probably born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Her parents were baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close friendship. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Lienster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court. Even as a young girl she evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her. She settled with seven of her virgins at the foot of Croghan Hill for a time and about the year 468, followed Mel to Meath. About the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. The foundation developed into a center of learning and spirituality, and around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. She died at Kildare on February 1. The Mary of the Gael, she is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick, with whom she is the patron of Ireland. Her name is sometimes Bridget and Bride.
David
Saint
Dewi
Sant
Patron of Wales
Feast Day
1 March