St. Bede the Venerable

Biography of Saint Bede the Venerable Saint Bede the Venerable was born in either 672 or 673 in Sunderland.  Saint Bede was a Doctor of the Church and wrote the famous work, “Ecclesiastical History of the English People.”   Not much is known about the life of Saint Bede, only that he lived at the monastery in Wearmouth from the age of seven and spent his time to the study of the gospels, living according to the monastic ways, singing praise to God, and writing.  He was ordained a priest when he was 30 years old.

Saint Bede the Venerable described himself as the "Servant of Christ and Priest of the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul which is at Wearmouth and Jarrow." Saint Bede died while living in the monastery in 735 A.D. Saint Bede is the patron saint of English writers and historians. Writings of Saint Bede the Venerable The majority of Saint Bede’s writings are in Latin but he did translate John’s Gospel into Old English.  Saint Bede said, “It has always been my delight to learn or to teach or to write”.  A few of St. Bede’s other writings include: History of the English Church and People On the Reckoning of Time Historical works on the lives of Abbot Wearmouth and Abbot Jarrow Poetry and prose on the life of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and St. Anastasius Theological writings, hymns,  and homilies Commentaries on Samuel, Genesis, Ezra and Nehemiah, On the Temple, On the Tabernacle, On Tobit, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Canticle of Habakkuk Hymn Written by Saint Bede the Venerable This hymn written by Saint Bede is in praise of the Ascension of Jesus. A hymn of glory let us sing;    New songs throughout the world shall ring:    Christ, by a road before untrod,    Now rises to the throne of God.    The holy apostolic band    Upon the Mount of Olives stand;    And with his followers they see    Their Lord's ascending majesty.    To them the angels drawing nigh,    "Why stand and gaze upon the sky?    This is the Savior," thus they say;    "This is his glorious triumph day.    "Again shall ye behold him so    As ye today have seen him go,    In glorious pomp ascending high,    Up to the portals of the sky."    O risen Christ, ascended Lord,    All praise to thee let earth accord,    Who art, while endless ages run,    With Father and with Spirit one.

Many theologians and historians wear a Saint Bede the Venerable medal or a Saint Bede pendant as an inspiration to them to continue their own writings.  A Saint Bede charm is a reminder of this great historian and theologian.