Beuno

Saint Beuno
Abbot
Born	late 6th century Powys, possibly Berriew
Died	(640-04-21)21 April 640 Clynnog Fawr, Gwynedd
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion
Major shrine	Clynnog Fawr, Gwynedd (destroyed, grave chapel survives)
Feast	21 April
Attributes	Abbot
Patronage	sick children; against diseased cattle

Saint Beuno (died 640) was a 7th century Welsh holy man and Abbot of Clynnog Fawr in Gwynedd, on the Llŷn peninsula.

Life

Beuno was born in Powys, supposedly at Berriew, the grandson of a prince of that realm. After education and ordination in the monastery of Bangor-on-Dee in north-east Wales, he became an active missionary, Cadfan, King of Gwynedd, being his generous benefactor. Cadwallon, Cadfan's son and successor, deceived Beuno about some land and, when the saint demanding justice, proved unsympathetic. Thereupon, Cadwallon's cousin Gwyddaint, in reparation, "gave to God and Beuno forever his township" of Clynnog Fawr, where the saint founded the famous abbey.

Beuno became the guardian and restorer to life of his niece, the virgin Saint Winefride. He was relentless with hardened sinners, but full of compassion to those in distress. Before his death "on the seventh day of Easter" he had a wondrous vision.

Repute

Eleven churches bearing Saint Beuno's name witness to his far-reaching missionary zeal, including one in a major monastery founded by him in the Llŷn peninsula. His feastday is 21 April.

Contemporary reference

A house of the Jesuits at Tremeirchion, near St Asaph in North Wales, formerly a theological college and now a Jesuit run Spirituality Centre/retreat house[1], is named for St Beuno.

External links

• Early British Kingdoms: St. Beuno Gasulsych

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)