St. Gwladys lived in the sixth century in what is now Wales. She and her chieftain husband Gwynllyw were sort of the Bonnie and Clyde of their day. Madly in love, they eloped with the help of King Arthur when Gwladys’s father disapproved the match. They were violent. They were bandits.
It was a riotous life… a life rejected by their oldest son, Cadoc, who became an abbot (as well as a saint himself) and was deeply distressed by his parents’ lifestyle. At one point, Cadoc sent messengers home to encourage his parents to repent and behave. They agreed to do so, and built churches and monasteries and spent the rest of their lives doing good works. The couple’s feast day is today.
St. Gwladys said to her husband when Cadoc sent his messengers: “Let us trust to our son, and he will be a father to us in heaven.”
The word of God can come to us from anyone, young or old. Think about through whom the Lord is speaking to you… and listen.
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