Daily Reflections
Ecclesiasticus 17:1-15 • St Bede (Memorial)
Today we celebrate the feast of one of England’s greatest saints: St Bede, known as the Venerable Bede. He was born in Monkton, Jarrow, in the year 673 AD. At the age of seven he was sent to live at St Peter’s Monastery in Wearmouth and later moved to the new foundation of St Paul in Jarrow. He remained there for the rest of his life, travelling no further than Hexham, Lindisfarne and York.
St Bede’s scholarship was renowned throughout Europe. St Boniface wrote that he ‘shone forth as a lantern in the Church’. St Bede himself tells us that he always ‘took delight’ in learning and teaching. His most famous work is his Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Still widely read, the work is one of the most important primary sources for the history of Anglo-Saxon England. His other works include scriptural commentaries, two Lives of St Cuthbert, books on chronology and nature, and the first martyrology. He was the first writer to adopt the AD dating system. A touching account of St Bede’s death in 735 AD exists in a letter by Cuthbert, who became Abbot of Jarrow. He is buried in Durham Cathedral. St Bede was a wise man.
He lived a life similar to the one outlined by the sage in today’s first reading. He devoted his life to loving God and serving his neighbour. Sirach could have been describing St Bede when he wrote: ‘He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law of life’ (v. 11). St Bede received many graces of revelation from the Lord. He once prayed: ‘And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of thy knowledge, so thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to thee, the fountain of all wisdom, and to appear forever before thy face.’
St Bede loved the Scriptures and the Divine Office, and gave his life wholeheartedly to the adventure of entering ever more deeply into the mystery of God. He said: ‘I have devoted my energies to the study of the Scriptures, observing monastic discipline, and singing the daily services in church; study, teaching and writing have always been my delight.’
‘Christ is the morning star, who when the night. Of this world is past brings to his saints. The promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day.’ (St Bede).
Ecclesiasticus 17:1-15 • Psalm 102(103):13-18
Mark 10:13-16
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