St Winefride, Virgin & Martyr; Com. Octave of All Saints: Missa “Me exspectaverunt“
St Winefride, who came from Flintshire, Wales, died in the year 650 in a convent in Gwytherin, Denbighshire, and in 1398 her relics were transferred with great pomp to the Benedictine abbey in Shrewsbury where they were enshrined and venerated. It was at about that time, some 500 years after her death, that fascinating legends about her life began to be recorded.
The most amazing of these is the claim that the young Caradog, a chieftain of Hawarden, had fallen in love with Winefride but she shunned his advances. He pursued her as she fled to the church that St Beuno, her uncle, had built and in a rage he cut off her head. Robert of Shrewsbury’s life of the saint says that Caradog was swallowed up by the earth at the scene of the crime, while at the place where Winefride’s head hit the ground a fragrant spring suddenly appeared. St Beuno raised her to life again, placing her severed head back on her shoulders, before departing to found a church at Clynnog Fawr Arfon. She left home to become a nun, and then an abbess. She is said to have died naturally 15 years after her miraculous resuscitation.
The spring attached to her legend has given its name to Holywell (Tre Ffynnon), Clwyd, and down the centuries, and right up to the present day, pilgrims have travelled there in the hope of finding healing for their illnesses. The well at Holywell, originally formed from a mountain spring, is housed below the town on the side of a steep hill. The shrine of St. Winifride (Gwenffrwd or Gwenfrewi), regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of a medieval holy well in Britain. The Well precinct also houses an Interpretive Exhibition setting forth the story of the saint and her shrine in detail; and the Victorian former custodians’ house has been converted to house a museum of the pilgrimage.
The details of St. Winefride’s life are gathered from a manuscript in the British Museum, said to have been the work of the British monk, Elerius, a contemporary of the saint, and also from a manuscript life in the Bodleian Library, generally believed to have been compiled (1130) by Robert, prior of Shrewsbury. Prior Robert is generally credited with greatly promoting the cult of St Winifred by translating her relics from Gwytherin to Shrewsbury Abbey and writing the most influential life of the saint. John of Tynemouth also wrote of Winifred.
To further enhance the prestige of the Abbey, Abbot Nicholas Stevens built a new shrine for St Winifred and then had some monks steal the relics of St Beuno from Rhewl and installed them in the abbey church. Although the abbey was fined, it was allowed to keep the relics! The shrine and well at Shrewsbury became major pilgrimage goals in the Late Middle Ages, but the shrine was destroyed by Henry VIII in 1540.
Another well named after St Winifred is in the hamlet of Woolston near Oswestry in Shropshire. It is thought that on her way to Shrewsbury Abbey, Winifred’s body was laid here overnight and a spring sprang up out of the ground. The water is supposed to have healing powers and be good at healing bruises, wounds and broken bones. The well is covered by a 15th-century half-timbered cottage. The water flows through a series of stone troughs and into a large pond, which then flows into a stream. The cottage is in a quiet, peaceful setting in the middle of the countryside, and is maintained by the Landmark Trust.
It is too late to establish any of the truths of the legends but, according to historians, there is no doubt that the saint existed. The spring attached to her legend has given its name to Holywell (Tre Ffynnon), Clwyd, and down the centuries, and right up to the present day, pilgrims have travelled there in the hope of finding healing for their illnesses. Such pilgrimages even continued throughout the Reformation with 14,000 people and 150 priests gathered there on St Winefride’s feast day in 1629 – a time when Catholics were still dying as martyrs. Her representation in stained glass at Llandyrnog and Llanasa focusses on her learning and her status as an honorary martyr, but the third aspect of her life, her religious leadership, is also commemorated visually. On the seal of the cathedral chapter of St Asaph (now in the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff), she appears wimpled as an abbess, bearing a crozier, symbol of leadership and authority and a reliquary.
INTROIT Psalm 118. 95, 96.
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood Thy testimonies, O Lord: I have seen an end of all perfection; Thy command is exceeding broad. — (Ps. 118. 1). Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory be to the Father…
COLLECT
O almighty eternal God, who didst bestow on blessed Winefride the reward of virginity, grant us, we beseech thee, by her intercession to reject the attractions of this world, and to obtain with her a seat in everlasting glory. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Commemoratio Tertia die infra Octavam Omnium Sanctorum
Almighty, eternal God, Who granted us to honor the merits of all Your Saints in a single solemn festival, bestow on us, we beseech You, through their manifold intercession, that abundance of Your mercy for which we yearn. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Wisd. 51. 13-17
Lesson from the Book of Wisdom. O Lord my God, Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth, and I have prayed for death to pass away. I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that He would not leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without help. I will praise Thy Name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard. And Thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me from the evil time. Therefore I will give thanks and praise to Thee, O Lord our God.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 45. 6
God will help her with His countenance: God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. V.: (Ps. 45. 5). The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the Most High hath sanctified His own tabernacle. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: This is a wise virgin, and one of the number of the prudent. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 25. 1-13.
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. At that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The Kingdom of Heaven shall be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 44. 3
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
SECRET
O Lord, graciously receive the oblations which we offer up to Thee; and by the intercession of blessed Winefride, Thy Virgin and Martyr, loose the bonds of our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R. Amen.
Commemoratio Tertia die infra Octavam Omnium Sanctorum
We offer You, O Lord, the gifts of our service; may they be pleasing to You for the honor of Your just ones and, through Your mercy, bring us salvation. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say in lowly praise: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Ps. 118. 121, 122, 128
I have done judgement and justice, O Lord, give me not up to them that slander me: I was directed to all Thy commandments, I have hated all wicked ways.
POSTCOMMUNION
We beseech Thee, O merciful God, that our service may please thee: that through the reception of these holy mysteries, you may grant to us, through the intercession of blessed Winefride your virgin and martyr, the grace to rejoice with you forever. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Commemoratio Tertia die infra Octavam Omnium Sanctorum
Grant Your faithful people, we beseech You, O Lord, ever to rejoice in the veneration of all the Saints, and to be protected by their unceasing prayers. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
The Brighton Oratory 
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