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St. Bede epitomized that brilliant flowering of Christianity and culture that characterized Anglo-Saxon England in the century follow-ing the arrival in early Briton of St Augustine, which brought the mysticism and scholar-ship of the Celtic Church together with the political vitality of Romanism. He is best-known today for his Church History of the English People , our main source of know-ledge of the conversion and early history of England. In this and in his other histories, Bede consulted archives and correspon-dence and, where possible, the recollec-tions of persons involved in the events. His innate scholarship led him to reject material he regarded as untrustworthy, so that what he does report must be treated seriously and has in many cases been confirmed by recent archaeology. As Encyclopedia Britannica concludes, “Bede is an indispensible source for some of the facts and much of the feel of early Anglo-Saxon history.”
Bede also wrote extensive commentaries on the scriptures, as well as chro-nological treatises on the reckoning of Easter (a major bone of contention between the Celtic and Roman Churches). His method of dating events from the Incarnation of Christ ~ Anno Domini ~ came into general use through the popularity of his Church History . Bede's influence was perpetu-ated through the school founded at York by one of his eminent pupils, Archbishop Egbert, and was transmitted to the continent by Alcuin, who studied there before becoming master of Charlemagne's palace school at Aachen.
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Bede came to the dual monastery of St. Peter and Paul at Monkwearmouth and at Jarrow, near Durham, at the age of seven, where he remained for the rest of his life. He epitomized the totality of the Anglo-Saxon commitment to Christ. At the conclusion of his Church History , Bede appends a short autobiographical note. After a few words about his life he lists the more than seventy books that he had written, and then concludes with this prayer:
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I pray you, noble Jesu, that as You have graciously granted me joyfully to imbibe the words of Your knowledge, so You will also in Your bounty grant me to come at length to Yourself, the Fount of all wisdom, and to dwell in Your presence forever.
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Bede's character shines through his work ~ an exemplary monk, an ardent Christian, a devoted scholar, and a man of pure and winsome manners. Bede is commemorated on May 25th. Two of Bede's hymns are included in our current hymnal.
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In summer of 2001, the rector went on pilgimage to the ruins of Bede's monastery at Jarrow. She celebrated the eucharist in St. Paul's chancel, where Bede would have done so! She also spent a week at Durham Cathedral, where Bede is buried in the Galilee Chapel.
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Bede on the Web:
• St . Bede the Venerable (735), Historian, Doctor of the Church
• Medieval Sourcebook: Bede : Lives of the Abbots
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Venerable Bede