Bède le Vénérable
vers 673-735 8th century Feast day: May 25
Long, obscure work carried through to the last day, and study that turns into prayer.
Who was Bède le Vénérable?
Given at seven years old to the monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow in Northumbria, he hardly ever left it, spending his life reading, teaching and writing (history, scripture, the reckoning of time). His pupil Cuthbert described his last days: he was dictating the end of a translation of John's Gospel, pausing for breath, urging the copyists to write quickly. He died on a Wednesday, the eve of the Ascension, sitting on the floor of his cell, facing the place where he used to pray.
In their own words
Spending my whole life in that same monastery, I gave all my care to the study of the Scriptures; and between keeping the rule and the daily duty of singing in church, I have always found it sweet to learn, or to teach, or to write.
All those of our nation to whom this history may come, whether they read it or hear it, I humbly beg that they remember to intercede often with the mercy on high for my infirmities of mind and body.