Gospel in Art: Saint David, Bishop

Saint David of Wales, Stained glass window by William Burges © Castell Coch, Wales

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 March 2025
Matthew 5:13-16

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.'

Reflection on the stained glass window

Today we celebrate Saint David, bishop and patron saint of Wales. Born around 500 AD, David (or Dewi Sant in Welsh) came from a noble lineage. His life, shrouded in legend, is mainly known through the hagiographical "Buchedd Dewi" ("Life of David"), written by Rhygyfarch in the late 11th century. Embracing the ascetic life from a young age, David became a priest and traveled through Wales and beyond, spreading the message of Christianity. He is credited with founding several monastic communities, the most famous of which is the abbey at Mynyw (now St Davids; the name for the Diocese of Menevia is derived from the ancient name Mynyw), where he became bishop. His monastic community was known for its extreme asceticism. The monks refrained from drinking beer or wine and ploughed their fields by hand without the aid of oxen, living a life of simplicity and hard work.

Saint David's most famous miracle is said to have occurred during a synod at Llanddewi Brefi, where he caused the ground to rise beneath him as he preached, so his voice could be heard by all. A white dove, seen settling on his shoulder, symbolized God's grace and blessing on his mission. His last words to his followers, from a sermon just before his death on 1st March 589, were: "Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do."

Our stained glass window depicts Saint David with the white dove on his shoulder, standing on a raised ground. The window was designed by William Burges (1827-1881) for the chapel at Castell Coch, a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle built above the village of Tongwynlais in South Wales. William Burges was among the greatest of the Victorian art-architects. He sought in his work to escape from both 19th-century industrialisation and the Neoclassical architectural style, attempting to reflect rather the architectural and social values of a utopian medieval England. He was influential beyond the British borders. In 1856 he received the first award in an international competition for the Cathedral of Lille, France. He also designed the Cathedral of Brisbane, Australia in 1859 and in 1862 St Finbar's Cathedral in Cork.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-13-16-2025/