Saint Bede was a person of great intellect and an extraordinary scholar. And yet at heart, he was an uncomplicated man who loved God and found life’s joy in following His will.  There are no miracles on Bede’s balance sheet, no visions, and no revelations beyond a steady belief in the love of God and His plan for each of us.

Saint Bede was born c. 673, and while his place of birth is uncertain, it’s believed he was born in present-day Sunderland, England. Sent to Jarrow Monastery at age seven, he spent the majority of his life there. Surrounded by saintly monks, Bede grew in spiritual stature and was an exemplary student of philosophy, astronomy, grammar, arithmetic, Holy Scripture and ecclesiastical history.  Eventually, he became a revered teacher, author, and scholar. His work Ecclesiastical History of the English People earned him the title “Father of English History.”

It’s said that nearing death, Bede called his fellow monks to his bedside and presented each with a gift he had made for them. His legacy then is first and foremost one of love for his fellow man and a life of humility amid personal greatness. He remained in his original Monastery of Saint Paul, Jarrow his entire life, content with the quiet simplicity of learning, writing, and teaching.