78. SAINT NON, NUN OF CORNWALL
Our holy Mother Non (or Nun or Nonna or Nonnita) was the daughter of Cynyr of Caer Gwch, in Menevia, West Wales, and Anna, the daughter of Gwrthefyr Fendigaid. Cynyr was the sub-king of a region which afterwards came to be known as Pebydiog, or Dewisland. He was also the father of SS. Gwen (Wenn), Banhadlen and Gwestlan or Guistlianus, Bishop of Old Menevia.
Non, who was a very beautiful virgin, became a nun at Ty Gwyn monastery at Maucan near Whitesand Bay. Once she was met by Sant, or Sanctus, king of the people of Ceredigion. Falling in love with her, he raped her in a meadow. From this rape was born the great St. David, or Dewi, as the Welsh call him. It is said that at the time of St. David's conception two large stones, which had not been seen there before, appeared, one at the head of St. Non and the other at her feet. Also, a well sprung up near the chapel which survives to this day and whose water has healing properties. From this time, according to Welsh tradition, she lived on bread and water, and never knew a man again. However, according to Irish tradition, she was also the mother of Magna, mother of St. Setna, and of Mor, mother of St. Eltin. This had led modern authorities to consider that she may have been married to Sant, and became a nun only after his death.
Once the pregnant St. Non went into a church to offer alms for the birth of her child. By tradition this was the church of Caermorfa on Morfa Esgob. At that time a certain preacher – he is variously considered to have been St. Gildas, St. Ailbe, or St. Patrick – was preaching in the church. As the mother entered, he was struck dumb. When asked by the congregation why he had broken off his sermon and become silent, he replied: «I can talk to you in ordinary conversation, but I am unable to preach. But go outside and allow me to remain here alone, to see if I can preach under those conditions.» The congregation went outside, but the mother concealed herself and hid in a corner, wishing to hear his words. Then the preacher again found himself unable to preach. Terrified, he cried out in a loud voice: «I adjure anyone who may be hiding from me to reveal himself from the place of his concealment, and to make himself known.» Then she said in reply: «I am hiding here.» Then he said: «Go outside, and let the congregation re-enter the church.» They did so, and he preached in his usual manner with unfettered tongue. Then the mother, on being asked, confessed that she was pregnant; and it became obvious to all that she would bring into the world one whose teaching would excel that of all the teachers of Britain.
There was a ruler in the neighbourhood who had heard from magicians that a boy was about to be born in his realm whose power would extend over the whole country. They also told him where he was going to be born, so he went to keep watch there. On the same day, St. Non was walking on the road leading to the place of the birth. Suddenly a great storm arose with thunder and lightning. There was so much hail and rain that nobody could go outdoors. But the place where the mother
lay groaning shone with a brilliant light as if lit by the sun. On that spot a church was built, whose ruins can be seen to this day.
At some time after the birth of her son, St. Non took him to Altarnon in Cornwall, perhaps because her sister, St. Gwen, was the wife of Selyf, Duke of Cornwall, who lived at Gallewick, «between the Tamar and the Lynher». There is a fine old church dedicated to her at Altarnon, with a holy well and an ancient standing cross, and another church bearing her name at Bradstone in Devon, by the Tamar. There are further holy wells dedicated to her at Pelynt, Boyton, Grampound and Portscatho, as well as in the region of St. David's in Wales.
According to Cornish tradition, the body of St. Non lies at Altarnon. However, it appears more likely that she died at some time in the sixth century at the last place of her earthly pilgrimage, at Dirinon, near Brest in Finistere, Brittany, where there is a chapel with her tomb in it and a holy well. At Dirinon is also shown the rock on which she was accustomed to kneel in prayer, until she left the impress of her knees in it. According to Breton tradition, many miracles were wrought at her tomb, and the Bretons venerate her even more than her son.
The feastday of St. Non is March 3.
Holy Mother Non, pray to God for us!
(Sources: S. Baring-Gould and J. Fisher, The Lives of the British Saints, 1907–1913, vol. 4, pp. 22–24; David Farmer, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978, pp. 294–295; Rhygyfarch, The Life of St. David; Nona Rees, St. David ofDewisland, Gomer Press, Llandysul, Ceredigion, 2008, pp. 4–7; T. Thomley Jones, «Saint David», The National Library of Wales Journal, vol. 20, no. 3,1978, p. 216; John McAsey, Ancient Chapels and Churches in Wales, Talybont, Ceredigion, 2003, p. 49)