25 May

St Bede the Venerable (c. 673-735)
Priest and doctor

Born: c. 673, Kingdom of Northumbria, Jarrow in present-day Tyne and Wear, England
Died: 26 May 735 (aged 62), Jarrow, Kingdom of Northumbria (present-day Tyne and Wear, England)
Venerated in: Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism
Canonized: Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII, Rome
Patron: Lectors; historians.

St. Bede was born in England. A Benedictine, he was “the most observant and the happiest of all monks.” His writings were so full of sound doctrine that he was called “Venerable” while still alive. He wrote commentaries on Holy Scripture and treatises on theology and history. He died at Jarrow, England.

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who bring light to your Church through the learning of the Priest Saint Bede, mercifully grant that your servants may always be enlightened by his wisdom and helped by his merits. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Things to Do:

St. Bede

Bede occupies an important niche in Church history by bridging the gap between patristic and early medieval times, the era when the Germanic nations had just been Christianized. Through him Christian tradition and Roman culture came to the Middle Ages. He is also honored as the “father of English history.” His writings were read publicly in churches while he was still alive; but since he could not be called “Saint,” the title of Venerable was attached to his name, a usage which continued down through the centuries.

True Benedictine that he was, his life revolved around prayer and work. On the vigil of the Ascension he felt death approaching and asked to be fortified with the last sacraments. After reciting the Magnificat antiphon of the feast’s second Vespers, he embraced his brethren, had himself placed upon a coarse penitential garment on the earth, and breathed forth his soul while saying softly: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.”

How St. Bede loved the Bible! Anyone who intends to live with the Church must keep the Scriptures near — day in, day out. St. Bede explained the Bible to others. At times you too will have this privilege. Use it.

— Excerpted from Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Source: Catholic Culture