Pennod 23 – Seintiau a Phechaduriaid

Saints and Sinners

Although we have mentioned the fact that the society of medieval Wales was thoroughly Christian, and although we have noted some religious aspects of some literary texts in passing, in this episode we concentrate on Christian literature – specifically, various traditions having to do with the Welsh saints. We note that the Welsh were fairly unique in their love of creating genealogies for the saints (a medieval manifestation of that ageless Welsh desire to ask to whom somebody is related, perhaps!). We discuss a popular narrative tradition as well, ‘Saints’ Lives’, biographies or the histories of their lives. We loo at the Life of St. David and discuss the role of literature in the development which made him the patron saint of Wales. You’ll hear the exciting story about a maiden named Gwenfrewi as she adopts a ‘high-risk strategy’ (according to Richard Wyn Jones) in order to try to escape from the nasty king, Caradog, and the history of the well which bears that saint’s name. We also consider the praise poetry to saints, and examine one awdl which elevates St. David above all of the other saints of the world.