SAINT OF THE WEEK: May 19 – Saint Dunstan
Early in 10th-century Wessex (tradition tells us), a gentleman named Heorstan was attending church on Candlemas Day with his wife Cynethryth, who was renowned for her holiness. Suddenly all the candles in the church were extinguished and only the candle held by the pregnant Cynethryth relit itself. This was taken to be a miraculous sign of the remarkable nature of the child, born some months later and christened Dunstan.
His parents sent the boy to Glastonbury Abbey for his education and Dunstan devoted himself to learning as many practical handiworks as took place within the abbey precincts, not neglecting his intellectual learning and – on the harp – musical skill.
