It's back!
The original virtual Shrine to St. Dwynwen
reopened for
business after more than a year!
St. Dwynwen Page
Icon of St. Dwynwen--thanks
to Paul Walliker for providing this image.
January 25th
is St. Dwynwen's Day!
Dedicated to St.
Dwynwen, patron of lovers (especially those in distress), and animals.
A picture of St. Dwynwen's
church at Llandwyn, Wales.
A word about this site
St. Dwynwen is the
Welsh patron saint of lovers, especially distressed lovers, and of animals.
Her day is January 25th. This page is to honor St. Dwynwen for favors granted
and to spread the word about her. After you've visited this site, I think
you'll agree that she is a Really Useful Saint--truly, a saint for our
times.
Why this page?
Like most single people
in the universe, I have found dating to be a real bummer. But
when I went looking for a Patron Saint of Dating, or of Breakups,
I couldn't find one. This struck me as very strange. There is
a patron saint for almost everything, including television (St.
Clare), schizophrenia (St. Dymphna), and lost objects (St. Anthony),
but no patron saint of Dating. (St. Anthony is known, however,
for helping to find good husbands, so he's worth keeping in mind
if you've reached that phase.) Praying to St. Jude, the saint
of impossible causes, seemed unduly pessimistic. And poor St.
Valentine has been ruined for the purpose, because his feast day
has become the single most unpleasant day of the year for singles.
Enter St. Dwynwen. St. Dwynwen is supposed to have asked for the
favor of assisting unhappy lovers; and those who pray to her are
assured of gaining their heart's desire or a speedy recovery from
their heartbreak, an eminently sensible Column A or Column B approach.
Put that together with her patronage of sick pets, and I realized
that there were literally millions of single Americans who were
in dire need of her services. I promised St. Dwynwen that I would
spread the word about her if she would help me out. This page
is in fulfilment of that vow.
But what has St. Dwynwen done for you?
Good, if tough, question.
St. Dwynwen may or may not get you the lover you think you need
right now. (Check her legend, below.) But as she often said, "Nothing
wins hearts like cheerfulness," and St. Dwynwen has kept me cheerful
and optimistic and bouncing back. (I sometimes think she helps
to weed out unsuitable prospects, too.) Try it.
As of 7/22/03, I've been happily
involved with a terrific guy for over a year. I give St. Dwynwen
credit for patching me up so I was ready, and St. Anthony for
finding him for me. (Speedy work, too--St. Anthony's Day is June
13th and I met X on June 24th.) Here's a link to a St.
Anthony site if you want to double your caseworkers.
The legend of St. Dwynwen
St. Dwynwen (also known as
Dwyn) lived in the 5th century, one of the daughter of the Welsh
king, Brychan of Brecknock. Depending on whose version you read,
she was in love with a guy named Maelon, but couldn't marry him
because A) her father had betrothed her to somebody else or B) she
was, despite her love for Maelon, determined to be a nun. In great
distress from this situation, Dwynwen had a vision, in which an
angel offered her a sweet drink that would relieve her from the
pains and fires of love. She drank the potion, but while she felt
fine afterwards, Maelon turned to ice or stone. After reconsidering
the situation, Dwynwen asked God for three favors; one, that Maelon
be reanimated; two, that she be permitted to assist all lovers in
distress; and three, that she herself never marry nor wish to marry.
One of her sayings was "Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness."
She founded a convent on a small island just off the Isle of Anglesey.
As with many Celtic saints, there is a holy well dedicated to her
on the spot, to which lovers came in pilgrimage to make their requests
and foretell the outcome of their wishes.
Prayers to St. Dwynwen
Traditionally, St.
Dwynwen was supposed to assist lovers in distress to gain their heart's
desire *or* speedy healing from their pain. You might try one or more of
the following prayers. Saying them certainly helped me. The spiritual element
has been left out of too much of our lives, and it's just as helpful in
dating or in healing from a bad breakup. You might also try what I did:
make a vow to St. Dwynwen and carry it out. Also, don't forget to say thank
you and pass the good word on.
(From the Convent
of St. Dwyn) Saint Dwyn, we beseech thee/ Comfort lovers whose vision is
unclear/ Send mending to those with love lost/ Protect our companions/
In your name, we seek to do the same/ In your name, we choose love first/
With the love of you, of Mary, and of Jesus Christ./ Amen.
O blessed St. Dwynwen,
you who knew pain and peace, division and reconciliation, you have promised
to aid lovers and you watch over those whose hearts have been broken. As
you received three boons from an Angel, intercede for me to receive three
blessings; to obtain my heart's desire [here you may name it] or, if that
is not God's will, a speedy healing from my pain; your guidance and assistance,
that I may find love with the right person, at the right time, and in the
right way; and an unshakeable faith in the boundless kindness and wisdom
of God. And this I ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord [or, in the
name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.] Amen.
Alternative versions
I am quite sure that
St. Dwynwen would not refuse her help to those who aren't Roman Catholic
(as a matter of fact, I am not a Roman Catholic, but an Anglo Catholic)
or Christian, or even theists. So I am providing a Theist version and an
atheist/agnostic version. Feel free to alter the prayer further as you
see fit.
Theist (non-Christian) version
O blessed St. Dwynwen,
you who knew pain and peace, division and reconciliation, you have promised
to aid lovers and you watch over those whose hearts have been broken. As
you received three boons from an Angel, intercede for me to receive three
blessings; to obtain my heart's desire [here you may name it] or, if that
is not God's will, a speedy healing from my pain; your guidance and assistance,
that I may find love with the right person, at the right time, and in the
right way; and an unshakeable faith in the boundless kindness and wisdom
of God. And this I ask in the name of God. Amen.
Atheist/agnostic version (also works great
for Pagans, possibly better)
O blessed Dwynwen,
you who knew pain and peace, division and reconciliation, you have promised
to aid lovers and you watch over those whose hearts have been broken. As
you are said to have received three boons from an Angel, may I receive
three blessings; to obtain my heart's desire [here you may name it] or,
if that is not to be, a speedy healing from my pain; your guidance and
assistance, that I may find love with the right person, at the right time,
and in the right way; and an unshakeable faith in the boundless and intrinsic
goodness of the world. And so shall it be.
Prayers for sick pets:
O dear St. Dwynwen,
come to heal [name of animal] and free him/her from pain and fear.
(addressed to the
pet) Dwynwen of the well/ Shall make you well/ And all shall be well and
all manner of thing shall be well.
Comments:
Fabulous! A site dedicated to
one of my very favourite saints - I am very glad :-)
-----
Ruth Price
Comments:
I had heard that Dwynwen was
turned into a hare - have you ever hear of this?
Love the icon of Dwynwen!
-----
Geraldine
Comments:
Thank you for this website.
I'm praying to St. Dwyn and to St. Therese of the Child Jesus for a marriage
proposal within a year or so from now. I hope I'm not foolish to want a
happy family life--one in which all of us love and serve God and each other.
Unfortunately, today it seems like a pipe dream to me. But, I have faith
in God's love and I know that He only gives us what's best for us. Amen!
-----
Comments:
Thank you so much for this website.
I just wanted to say that I know St. Dwynwen has helped me through the
graces she has been blessed with by God. I have shared this prayer with
family & friends and they have also found her to be of great comfort
and help. Thank you so much for bringing her to my attention.
-----
Frederick
Comments:
Love you the Most to say the
Least.
-----
Charles Sinay
Comments:
From one Anglo-Catholic to another:
Great site! Keep the Faith!
A picture of St. Dwynwen's
church at Llandwyn, Wales.
St. Dwynwen (also known as
Dwyn) lived in the 5th century, one of the daughter of the Welsh
king, Brychan of Brecknock. Depending on whose version you read,
she was in love with a guy named Maelon, but couldn't marry him
because A) her father had betrothed her to somebody else or B) she
was, despite her love for Maelon, determined to be a nun. In great
distress from this situation, Dwynwen had a vision, in which an
angel offered her a sweet drink that would relieve her from the
pains and fires of love. She drank the potion, but while she felt
fine afterwards, Maelon turned to ice or stone. After reconsidering
the situation, Dwynwen asked God for three favors; one, that Maelon
be reanimated; two, that she be permitted to assist all lovers in
distress; and three, that she herself never marry nor wish to marry.
One of her sayings was "Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness."
She founded a convent on a small island just off the Isle of Anglesey.
As with many Celtic saints, there is a holy well dedicated to her
on the spot, to which lovers came in pilgrimage to make their requests
and foretell the outcome of their wishes. 
