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Dear Friends,
In a unique way, March is the month of Lent. Lent does not always start as early as February and occasionally it is over before April begins, but a substantial part of it always falls within March. Babies born around the middle of the month can be sure that their birthdays will always be in Lent (it was one such baby who alerted me to this).
Each year, March also has the distinction of introducing two saints who are very special to us in Britain – St David of Wales and St Patrick of Ireland – the only two of our four national saints who actually lived their lives in the British Isles. St David is celebrated on the first day of the month, perhaps the very day that you are opening this newsletter.
Thirdly, this particular March lies within the year 2026, the National Year of Reading. This is a major campaign, seeking to bring people back to books, encouraging them to take time to get absorbed in a story, or follow a series of arguments through to the end. However you look at it, this Lenten month of March is a good time to stand back from the rush and reflect upon all those important things that can get crowded out of the daily routine.
The BBC’s “Thought for the Day” has been going a long time – it was well established even back in 1996, when St David provided the theme for the broadcast on 1st March, exactly 30 years ago. You may not remember the detail of that talk, and indeed I don’t either, but I do remember that it left me with a strong image of the simple, peaceful, self-denying life that David lived, and that he established in the monastic community that he led – and beyond. It included hard manual labour and a plain vegetarian diet, with only water to drink.
St David’s Cathedral stands on the site of one of his monastic foundations, and of his grave. It must be said that it is not quite as old as it looks – but its character is very different from the soaring elegance of many English cathedrals. The stone appears more rugged, the building perhaps a little smaller, with the nave having a ceiling not of stone but of wood. This simplicity seems to fit well with what we know of St David, and perhaps can help to inspire us to tackle life in a different way, at least for the next few weeks.
Lent has long been regarded as a time for giving something up, but recently there has been more emphasis on marking the season by taking on something new. One option is to read something we would not normally read – this year, for instance, we have the opportunity to look in detail at the book of Hebrews, supported by notes and guidance. Some, of course, may choose to read something different, or to do something different. But the important thing is that Lent invites us to pause and think, spend time with God, and prepare ourselves for what will come next.
Wishing you a peaceful and beneficial Lent,
Christine