St. Bede the Venerable

A short biography and a video about today's Saint.
.
From The Remnant

By  Michael J. Matt 

St. Bede was born in northern England in the year 673. At the age of seven, he was sent, as an oblate, to a nearby monastery. In 686 the plague struck, and only two surviving monks were capable of singing the full offices; one was Bede, about 13 years old at the time. When he was only 19, he was ordained a deacon by the bishop of his diocese. He became a priest at the age of 30.

St. Bede was a gifted teacher and scholar. He was considered the most learned man of his time. A student of his became the teacher of Alcuin, the famous teacher in the time of Charlemagne. He wrote over 60 books on a large variety of subjects. His most famous work is the Ecclesiastical History of the English People. He also helped establish the practice of dating from the birth of Christ.

Except for a few visits to other monasteries, his life was spent in observance of the monastic discipline. St. Bede died on Ascension Thursday in the year 735, on the floor of his cell, singing the Glory Be.

He was called Venerable because of his reputation for holiness, and his cult became widespread in England and on the Continent within a century. In 1899 Pope Leo XIII declared him a Doctor of the Church. He is the only native of England who has been given this title. He is also the only Englishman in Dante's Paradiso, in the same canto as St. Isidore of Seville.

.