Saint
Beuno (died 640) was a 7th century
WelshThe Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
holy man and Abbot of
Clynnog FawrClynnog Fawr, often simply called "Clynnog", is a village on the north coast of the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.Clynnog Fawr lies on the A499 road between Caernarfon and Pwllheli, at . It had a population of 130 in 1991...
in
GwyneddGwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although one of the biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, on the
Llŷn peninsulaThe Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, southwest of the island of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root — Laighin in modern Irish — as the word Leinster...
.
Life
Beuno was born in
Powys
, supposedly at
BerriewBerriew is a picturesque village in Powys, Mid Wales, situated on the Montgomeryshire Canal and the river Rhiw near the confluence with the River Severn at...
, the grandson of a prince of that realm. After education and ordination in the
monasteryMonastery , a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer Monastery (plural: monasteries), a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios...
of
Bangor-on-DeeBangor-on-Dee is a village in the ancient district of Maelor in Wales, situated on the banks of the River Dee. The village is in the county borough of Wrexham.-Etymology:...
in north-east
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
, he became an active missionary,
CadfanCadfan ap Iago was King of Gwynedd . Little is known of the history of Gwynedd from this period, and information about Cadfal and his reign is minimal....
,
King of GwyneddGwynedd is one of several Welsh successor states that emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the Deceangli which were collectively known as Venedotia in late Romano-British documents...
, being his generous benefactor.
CadwallonCadwallon ap Cadfan was the King of Gwynedd from around 625 until his death in battle. The son and successor of Cadfan ap Iago, he is best remembered as the King of the Britons who devastated Northumbria, defeating and killing its king, Edwin, prior to his own death in battle against Oswald of...
, Cadfan's son and successor, deceived Beuno about some land and, when the saint demanded justice, proved unsympathetic. Thereupon, Cadwallon's cousin Gwyddaint, in reparation, "gave to God and Beuno forever his township" of
Clynnog FawrClynnog Fawr, often simply called "Clynnog", is a village on the north coast of the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd, north-west Wales.Clynnog Fawr lies on the A499 road between Caernarfon and Pwllheli, at . It had a population of 130 in 1991...
in the
Llŷn peninsulaThe Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, southwest of the island of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root — Laighin in modern Irish — as the word Leinster...
, where the saint founded a famous abbey.
Beuno became the guardian and restorer to life of his niece, the virgin Saint
WinefrideSaint Winefride was a legendary 7th century Welsh noblewoman who was canonized after dying for the sake of her chastity. A healing spring at the site of her death is now a shrine and pilgrimage site called St Winefride's Well in Holywell, known as the Lourdes of Wales...
. He was relentless with hardened sinners, but full of compassion to those in distress. Before his death at Clynnog "on the seventh day of
EasterEaster is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day from his crucifixion...
" he had a wondrous vision.
Repute
Eleven churches bearing Saint Beuno's name witness to his far-reaching missionary zeal, including one in his monastery at Clynnog Fawr. His feastday is 21 April.
Contemporary reference
St Beuno'sSt Beuno's Retreat and Spirituality Centre, known locally as St Beuno's College is a grade II* listed building and Jesuit college in Wales. It was the home of the Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins....
, a house of the
JesuitsThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic religious order of clerks regular whose members are called Jesuits.Jesuits are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, with 18,815 members—13,305 priests, 2,295 scholastic students, 1,758 brothers and 827 novices—as of January 2008, although the...
at Tremeirchion, near St Asaph in North Wales, formerly a theological college and now a Jesuit run Spirituality Centre/retreat house
http://www.beunos.com, is named for St Beuno.
External links