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Good Morning. St Davids Cathedral stands on the Westernmost peninsula of Wales, Ìýwhere St David founded a monastic community in the 6th century.Ìý

Even in his lifetime, David’s reputation as a holy man, close to God, drew pilgrims here, many travelling by sea from Ireland, Brittany and beyond.

In later centuries, the sea brought Viking invaders who repeatedly sacked the monastery, and David’s bones were lost.Ìý

William the Conqueror came and prayed here, and a stone Cathedral was later built. In 1123, the Pope declared that two pilgrimages to St Davids were of equivalent value to one to Rome, and pilgrimage became so popular that in 1181, work started on a far larger cathedral – essentially, the one we see today.Ìý

In the late 13th century, a Shrine was built to St David, which became the focus of pilgrim prayers.Ìý

During the Reformation, that Shrine was seriously damaged, and pilgrimage was forbidden, but St Davids nonetheless remained a magnet for all who are spiritually journeying. The Shrine was recently restored, and last year almost 300,000 people found their way here.Ìý

And so, on Fridays at noon we say prayers beside the Shrine for all who feel themselves on life’s pilgrim journey. We pray to St David’s God and ours, that we may know the same zeal as David, and follow Jesus with the same dedication.Ìý

We also pray we may all be guided by David’s wise words at the end of his life: be joyful; keep the faith, and do the little things that you have seen and heard me do.Ìý

Lord Jesus, through the often turbulent pilgrim journey of life, help us to be diligent in doing the small things well, so we may follow you faithfully and know your joy. AmenÌý

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