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Also known as
Venerable Bede; Father of English History
Memorial: 25 May; formerly 27 May
Profile
Born around the time England was finally completely Christianized. Raised
from age seven in the abbey of Saints Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow,
and lived there his whole life. Benedictine monk. Spiritual student of the
founder, Saint Benedict Biscop. Ordained in 702 by Saint John of Beverley.
Teacher and author, he wrote about history, rhetoric, mathematics, music,
astronomy, poetry, grammar, philosophy, hagiography, homiletics, and Bible
commentary.
He was known as the most learned man of his day, and his writings started
the idea of dating this era from the incarnation of Christ. The central
theme of Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica is of the Church using the power of
its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and
barbarism. Our knowledge of England before the 8th century is mainly the
result of Bede's writing. He was declared a Doctor of the Church on 13
November 1899 by Pope Leo XIII.
Born
672 at Wearmouth, England
Died
25 May 735
Canonized
1899 by Pope Leo XIII
Patronage
lectors
Representation
monk writing at a desk; old monk dying amidst his community old monk with
a book and pen; old monk with a jug;
Readings
He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his
neighbor.
-Saint Bede the Venerable
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On Tuesday before the feast of the Ascension, Bede's breathing became
labored and a slight swelling appeared in his legs. Nevertheless, he gave
us instruction all day long and dictated cheerfully the whole time. It
seemed to us, however, that he knew very well that his end was near, and
so he spent the whole night giving thanks to God.
At daybreak on Wednesday he told us to finish the writing we had begun. We
worked until nine o'clock, when we went in procession with the relics as
the custom of the day required. But one of our community, a boy named
Wilbert, stayed with him and said to him, "Dear master, there is still one
more chapter to finish in that book you were dictating. Do you think it
would be too hard for you to answer any more questions?" Bede replied:
"Not at all; it will be easy. Take up your pen and ink, and write
quickly," and he did so.
At three o'clock, Bede said to me, "I have a few treasures in my private
chest, some pepper, napkins, and a little incense. Run quickly and bring
the priest of our monastery, and I will distribute among them these little
presents that god has given me."
When the priests arrived he spoke to them and asked each one to offer
Masses and prayers for him regularly. They gladly promised to do so. The
priests were sad, however, and they all wept, especially because Bede had
said that he thought they would not see his face much longer in this
world. Yet they rejoiced when he said, "If it so please my Maker, it is
time for me to return to him who created me and formed me out of nothing
when I did not exist. I have lived a long time, and the righteous Judge
has taken good care of me during my whole life. The time has come for my
departure, and I long to die and be with Christ. My soul yearns to see
Christ, my King, in all his glory." He said many other things which
profited us greatly, and so he passed the day joyfully till evening.
When evening came, young Wilbert said to Bede, "Dear master, there is
still one sentence that we have not written down." Bede said, "Quick,
write it down." In a little while, Wilbert said, "There; now it is written
down." Bede said, "Good. You have spoken the truth; it is finished. Hold
my head in your hands, for I really enjoy sitting opposite the holy place
where I used to pray; I can call upon my Father as I sit there."
And so Bede, as he lay upon the floor of his cell, sang, "Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit." And when he had named the
Holy Spirit, he breathed his last breath.
from a letter on the death of Saint Bede written by the monk Cuthbert
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"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, any my spirit rejoices in
God my savior." With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts
she has been given.
Above all other saints, she alone could truly rejoice in Jesus, her
savior, for she knew that he who was the source of eternal salvation would
be born in time in her body, in one person both her own son and her Lord.
"For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name."
Mary attributes nothing to her own merits. She refers all her greatness to
the gift of one whose essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for
he fill with greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in
him.
She did well to add: "and holy is his name," to warn those who heard, and
indeed all who would receive his words, that they must believe and call
upon his name. For they too could share in everlasting holiness and true
salvation according to the words of the prophet: "and it will come to
pass, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This
is the name she spoke of earlier when she said "and my spirit rejoices in
God my savior."
from a homily by Saint Bede
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