Bede was an expert in many fields of learning, including natural philosophy, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, Church history, and Scripture; he authored many books, including the famous History of the English Church and People, and was the first known writer of English prose. As his reputation spread, various kings and even the pope desired his presence as a scholar-in-residence, but except for a few months teaching in the school of the Archbishop of York, Bede remained in the monastery of St. Paul until his death.

Only a century after he died, St. Bede was unofficially given the title “Venerable” (worthy of honor), and in 1899 Pope Leo XIII declared him a Doctor (an eminent and reliable teacher) of the Church.

Lessons

1. As the life of St. Bede shows, scholarship can lead to holiness; the Book of Wisdom states, “Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her” (6:12).

2. Serving God is more important than one’s own reputation; rather than seeking honor as a scholar-in-residence, St. Bede preferred to continue his studying and writing in the obscurity of the monastery.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Gregory VII (1085), Pope

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi (1607), Virgin

St. Urban I (230), Pope, Martyr

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1865), Virgin, Foundress

On returning to Norfolk, he worked briefly as a steward for a wealthy man, but left this position to travel again, making a pilgrimage to St. Giles in France and to Rome. For a while, Godric spent time in the wilderness, living the monastic life with another devout soul named Godwin. They had met while on pilgrimage. Both being devoted to God and desiring to lead the life of hermits, they retired to the wilderness where they spent their days praying and living austere lives. After a brief illness, Godwin died and so Godric again traveled to Jerusalem. He then retired to the desert of Finchale near the Wear River. There he practiced daily devotions, praying the psalms and other prayers. For sixty-three years he remained in the desert, but spent the last several years prior to his death confined to bed by illness and old age. On May 21, 1170, the Lord took the humble and pious St. Godric to be with Him.

Saint Godric was buried in the chapel that he had built in honor of St. John the Baptist. Many miracles took place that confirmed his sainthood. Later Richard, brother to the bishop of Durham, built a chapel in honor of St. Godric.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to not only admire the spiritual values of others, but to seek the same values in our own lives. Forgive us for the time that we waste pursuing worldly pleasure. May we always remember that our goal is heaven and not the things of this world and live our lives seeking Your Kingdom. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Companions (1915-1928), Martyrs

St. Andrew Bobola (1657), Priest, Martyr

When Siena was struck by a plague, Bernardine nursed the sick until he himself became ill. After recovering, he became a Franciscan monk, and was ordained a priest in 1404. Bernardine spent a dozen years in solitude and prayer, and was then sent forth as a preacher. For many years he traveled on foot throughout Italy, preaching to crowds as large as 30,000 — accomplishing all this with a weak and hoarse voice (though, according to legend, it later miraculously improved because of his devotion to Mary).

Bernardine was especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, and he devised a symbol — IHS (the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek) — to represent it. As this devotion spread, the symbol began to replace the superstitious signs and symbols of the day. When a manufacturer of playing cards complained that the saint’s preaching against gambling was depriving him of his livelihood, Bernardine told him to start making medallions with the symbol IHS. The man took this advice — and ended up making more money than ever.

Some of Bernardine’s teachings were criticized, and three attempts were made to have the pope discipline him, but the saint’s obvious faith and holiness overcame all opposition. St. Bernardine helped strengthen the Franciscan Order, and he contributed to a great increase of piety among the laity. He died soon after attending the Council of Florence in 1444, and was canonized only six years later.

Lessons

1. As St. Paul stated, “God bestowed upon Jesus the Name that is above every other name” (Philippians 2:9). As St. Bernardine realized, honoring the Holy Name of Jesus is the sign of a true Christian.

2. God will provide for those who, even at financial cost to themselves, seek to do what’s right; St. Bernardine helped the maker of gambling equipment find a better and holier way to make a living.

3. Bernardine followed the advice of St. Francis of Assisi to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” His success shows that many people are willing to listen to the proclamation of the truth.

Christianity was also divided (though not in a geographic sense) by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. King Theodoric, the German chieftain who was in effect the Western emperor, was himself an Arian, though he was initially tolerant of the Catholics in his kingdom. Soon after John was elected pope, Justin, the Eastern emperor, began repressing the Arians in the East. Theodoric was upset by this, and he forced John and other religious leaders from the West to visit Justin in Constantinople (capital of the Eastern empire) for the purpose of lessening the restrictions placed upon the Arians. (Because religious questions had political implications, it was not uncommon for kings to involve themselves in religion, and for bishops to find themselves involved in politics.)

Little is known about the outcome of the negotiations Pope John conducted with Emperor Justin, but because the two leaders got along well together, a paranoid Theodoric assumed they were plotting against him. When John returned to Italy in 526, Theodoric had him arrested. Pope John died soon after he was imprisoned, perhaps as a result of the treatment he received, thus earning a martyr’s crown. John was the first of twenty-three popes of that name, and the only one to be canonized a saint.

Sometimes religion is inescapably involved in politics. As St. John knew, when this happens, our primary loyalty must be to Christ, not to the rulers of this world.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Venatius of Camerino (257), Martyr

St. Eric (1160), Martyr, King and Patron of Sweden

Isidore labored on John’s farm for the remainder of his life. He was a model worker, a simple and caring person, and a very devout Christian. Every day he rose early in the morning to attend Mass at a nearby church, sometimes, according to fellow workers, showing up late for work because he spent too much time in prayer.

Isidore married Maria de la Cabeza, a simple and devout woman who herself became a canonized saint. The couple had one child, who died at an early age. They were both known for their piety and concern for the poor; legends exist about Isidore miraculously supplying them with food on occasion, and the saint had a great concern that animals be treated properly. Isidore would pray while plowing in the fields, and it’s even said that angels would sometimes help him with his work.

St. Isidore the Farmer died in 1130. Along with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri, he is known in Spain as one of the “Five Saints.”

Lessons

1. Many Americans have a desire to build a successful career, changing jobs when better opportunities arise and perhaps even starting their own businesses and becoming their own bosses. God’s grace can be experienced in such a lifestyle, but this measure of success is not required for holiness. St. Isidore worked for the same landowner for over fifty years; he had no need to become independent, for he realized that he was ultimately working for Christ.

2. Work and prayer can be and are meant to be combined. This might mean, if circumstances allow, arranging our schedule so as to attend daily Mass before or after work; it also quite frequently means praying or meditating while working (especially in the case of manual labor). St. Isidore worshipped God in both these manners, thereby sanctifying his work and influencing those around him.

Since the Apostles held the role of elders or leaders in the early Church, St. Peter suggested that a replacement for Judas be selected from among those who had known Jesus during His earthly ministry. Two such disciples were nominated: Joseph (known as Barsabbas) and Matthias. After praying over them, the Apostles chose by lot — and Matthias was thus selected. From that time on he was numbered among the Twelve Apostles.

Apart from this description in Acts, St. Matthias is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament. However, an ancient tradition plausibly claims that Matthias was one of Jesus’ seventy-two disciples, and another tradition states that he suffered martyrdom in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), along the shore of the Black Sea.

Lessons

1. Sometimes we may feel we don’t “fit in,” especially when it comes to taking on important responsibilities or working with influential people in the Church or in society. However, if God is calling us to such a role, He will also make it possible for us to achieve it. St. Matthias, though too humble to consider himself equal to the other apostles, was nonetheless able to exercise this office.

2. The Church has the authority to make binding decisions in response to particular issues or questions that may arise. Jesus is nowhere recorded as having told the Apostles to replace Judas; St. Peter and the others themselves decided that this should be done, and the Holy Spirit ratified this decision.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Boniface of Tarsus (306), Martyr

After the death of his parents, John received a large inheritance, which he shared with other relatives. With part of his share, he built a church dedicated to the Blessed Mother as well a monastery. He and ten other friends then began living their lives as monks, practicing self-denial and mortification.

In 481, he was asked to leave his monastic life and become Bishop of Colonia. This was difficult for John. He was very humble, felt unworthy, and preferred his life as a monk. John still followed monastic life as much as possible in his new position. He prayed fervently and constantly for discernment, wanting only God’s will. According to his biographer, one night while in prayer he had a vision of a bright cross in mid-air. He then heard a voice, which said, “If thou desires to be saved, follow this light.” The light then moved and pointed to a place that John recognized as the Lavre (monastery) of St. Sabas. John immediately knew that God had answered his prayer and so left his episcopal charge. He traveled to Palestine, taking time in Jerusalem to perform his devotions, then retiring at the Lavre of St. Sabas. There were 150 other devout and pious monks living at the monastery and John was at home with these fervent monks.

John was 38 years old at this time. In his new home he was given the duties of fetching water and carrying stones, having been placed in the service of the workmen who were building a hospital. Through all his chores, John was always silent but joyful. He tried to avoid the sins so often committed by the tongue, and also because he preferred interior recollection and prayer, he rarely spoke.

John was highly regarded by his brother monks. He served as a great example of holiness to them as did their abbot, St. Sabas. St. Sabas noticed John was remarkably proficient in the monastic life and decided that John should be allowed to have a separate hermitage to continue in his meditations and spiritual growth. For three years John stayed alone in his cell, only coming out in public to attend church on weekends. After this period, St. Sabas, judging John worthy of the vocation of priesthood, recommended him to the patriarch Elias. However, prior to his ordination, John asked to speak to the Holy Father and then revealed that he been ordained a bishop and had abdicated the episcopacy of Colonia. On hearing his confession, Patriarch Elias told St. Sabas that he could not ordain John. Finally John explained the situation to St. Sabas. Knowing how much he had disappointed his holy abbot, John insisted on quitting the Larve, but St. Sabas urged him to stay and told him that he would not reveal his secret. For the next four years, John again lived alone in his cell, never speaking to anyone except a few words to those who brought him food and necessities. Thus John came to be known as John the Silent.

In the year 503, due to problems with some of the monks and divisions among them, St. Sabas quit his Lavre. Out of respect for his abbot, John also left and went into the wilderness where he stayed for the next several years in complete silence, conversing with God only. After seven years, St. Sabas returned to his Lavre. He sought out John and prevailed upon him to come back. John did return, but he had become so accustomed to communication only with God that he confined himself to his cell and spent the next forty years in silence. John died at the age of 104.

Lessons

St. Cyril of Scythopolis, who wrote about St. John the Silent, said that he when he was 16 years old, he sought advice from John who was then 90 years old. He wanted John to help him discern his state in life. St. John advised him to go to the monastery St. Euthymius. Cyril, however, went instead to a small monastery on the banks of the Jordan River. He had barely arrived there when he fell ill with fever and was deathly sick. One night, in his sleep he had a vision of St. John who gently rebuked him for not following his advice and told him that if he went to the monastery of St. Euthymius his health would be restored. As soon as he awoke the next morning, he received the Eucharist and set out on foot for the monastery. As soon as he arrived, he was completely recovered. St. Cyril, in his biography of St. John, also related several other miracles attributed to this holy man.

Prayer

Father, you called St. John to the solitary life in which he prayed for others. Grant us the signs we seek for discerning Your will and purify our hearts, dear Lord, that we may serve You more perfectly. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

Our Lady of Fatima (1917)

St. Robert Bellarimine (1621), Bishop, Cardinal, Doctor

St. Andrew Hubert Fournet (1834), Priest

Three centuries later, Pope St. Damasus (d. 384) wrote of them: “The martyrs Nereus and Achilleus had enrolled themselves in the army and exercised the cruel office of carrying out the orders of the tyrant [the Emperor], being ever ready, through the constraint of fear, to obey his will. O miracle of faith! Suddenly they cease from their fury, they become converted, they fly from the camp of their wicked leader; they throw away their shields, their armor and their blood-stained javelins. Confessing the faith of Christ, they rejoice to bear testimony to its triumph.

“Learn now from the words of Damasus what great things the glory of Christ can accomplish.” According to St. Damasus, the two martyrs were buried in the cemetery of Domitilla on the Via Ardeatina near Rome.

Lessons

1. Sts. Nereus and Achilleus were not the first enemies or persecutors of the Church to undergo a dramatic conversion and then join the group they had been persecuting; Saul of Tarsus, who vigorously opposed the early Christians, shocked many people (including the Christians themselves) by becoming not only a Christian, but the Church’s greatest missionary. Unexpected conversions such as these are a vivid reminder of the power of the gospel and of divine grace. No matter how bleak a situation may appear, God is able to bring about amazing changes in fortune, validating Jesus’ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church (cf. Matthew 16:18).

2. Pope St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) said on the feast of Nereus and Achilleus, “These saints, before whom we are assembled, despised the world and trampled it under their feet when peace, riches and health gave it charms.” Like them, we are called to seek God’s Kingdom first, and not the wealth and success this world offers (cf. Luke 12:31-34).

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Domitilla (2nd Century), Virgin

Blessed Imelda Lambertini (1333), Virgin, Religious, Patron of First Communicants

St. Pancratius (304), Martyrs

When Eadbert saw the condition of the clothes that had been on the holy body, he devoutly kissed the garment. He then gave the order that the body of Cuthbert be clothed in even finer garments, and put in a new coffin which was then to be placed above the sanctuary for veneration by the faithful. Bishop Eadbert said that the grave that had held the holy body of Cuthbert surely wouldn’t remain empty for long. The words he uttered were prophetic because soon Eadbert himself fell ill and died. His body was laid to rest in the empty grave of St. Cuthbert and the incorrupt body of the saint was placed atop the former grave. According to the historian Bede, many miracles occurred that bore witness to both of these great saints.

Lessons

Bede also wrote that while he was bishop, St. Eadbert had the church of Lindisfarne, which was dedicated to Archbishop Theodorus, covered with lead to preserve it because it was made of oak and reeds.

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for the miracle of incorruption that we have witnessed so often in the bodies of the saints. What a wonderful testimony not only to their holy lives but also to Your greatness. Thank you for these miraculous signs, Father. May they bring many to conversion. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Evodius (64), Disciple, Bishop, first to use the term “Christian”

Blesseds Edward Jones and Anthony Middleton (1590), Priests, Martyrs

St. John before the Latin Gate (95), Apostle

One of his converts was a woman who was in an incestuous relationship with her rich and powerful brother. Through the preaching of Angelus, this woman came to realize the sinfulness of her actions, repented and converted to Catholicism. This angered her brother and he contrived with a group of heretics to murder Angelus. This murder took place in 1220 at Licate in Sicily when Angelus was stabbed to death.

Lessons

St. Angelus’ relics were transferred to the Carmelite Church at Licate.

St. Angelus is often depicted in art wearing a Carmelite habit with a knife in his head and a sword in his chest, holding a book and three crowns. He has also been represented with an angel bringing him three crowns while he is tied to a tree shot through with arrows with lilies and roses falling from his mouth.

Prayer

St. Angelus, we thank you for your courage in defending the true faith and not backing down in the face of sin. You saved many lives in your preaching and teaching of the faith. We pray you will guide us to do the same. We ask for your intervention for us to be brave in the face of sin and not back away from our call as Christians to lovingly rebuke those in error and bring them to the fullness of faith. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

St. Pius V (1572), Pope

St. Jutta (Judith) (9th Century), Patroness of Prussia