Even during his own lifetime people respected St. Bede for his faith and wisdom. He was called “venerable” by those around him.
St. Bede was born in 673. He was a Benedictine monk in England. He became a deacon at age 19 and was ordained a priest at age 30. He believed that knowledge, especially the knowledge of scripture, should be available to all and he copied many books to facilitate this. This was before the typewriter was invented!
He also wrote 45 original books. These included classroom texts, lives of the saints, history books, works on scripture, and more. He is perhaps best known for writing Ecclesiastical History of the English People. This gives an account of the history and culture of England. While he did not invent the AD (Anno Domini) system of dating, he popularized it by using it in his writings.
St. Bede the Venerable died in 735. When he died, he was reciting his favorite prayer, the Glory Be.
His feast day is May 25.
Patron Saint of …
St. Bede the Venerable is the patron saint of historians.
Daily Mass Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church
- First Reading – 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16: We have received the Spirit from God to understand His gifts, explained not in human terms but through the Spirit, which the naturally-minded cannot grasp.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 119: I seek guidance to live rightly by adhering closely to your laws, finding joy and direction in them.
- Gospel – Matthew 7:21-29: Jesus teaches that true followers of God do His will, likening them to a wise builder on solid rock, unlike those who ignore His words, who face ruin like a house on sand.
Quote and Social Media Graphic
The story of Bede, the monk who became the first historian of England and chronicler of the Northern Saints.
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