St. Bede the Venerable lived during the end of the seventh century into the beginning of the eighth century. He is considered the first English Church historian. His religious life began at the age of seven when he was sent to live in the monastery of Saint Peter in Northumbria. He became known as "The Father of English History" after writing his most famous work, "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum", translated, "The Ecclesiastical History of the English People".

St. Bede the Venerable is also well known for his many poems, prose, hymns, historical pieces, sermons, commentaries, and translations of the Scriptures. The feast of St. Bede the Venerable is celebrated on May 27.

St. Bede the Venerable Tomb

St. Bede the Venerable died on May 27,735 near Newcastle, England. He was buried in Jarrow at the St. Paul monastery but was moved in 1022 to Durham where he was entombed

next to St. Cuthbert.

St. Bede's body was moved again in 1370 to the Galilee Chapel in a beautiful shrine. Although the shrine was destroyed in 1540, the bones of St. Bede remain buried there. A tombstone was erected over St. Bede the Venerable's grave in 1831. On the limestone gravestone, the words written by St. Bede himself are inscribed:

"Christ is the morning star Who when the night Of this world is past Brings to his saints The promise of The light of life & opens everlasting day."

St. Bede the Venerable Prayer

Heavenly Father, who called your servant Bede, while still a child, to devote his life to your service in the disciplines of religion and scholarship: Grant that as he labored in the Spirit to bring the riches of your truth to his generation, so we, in our various vocations, may strive to make you known in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Prayer Written by St. Bede the Venerable

The gate of the kingdom must be asked for by praying, sought after by living properly, and knocked at by persevering.

Many Christians today wear a St. Bede the Venerable pendant or a St. Bede the Venerable necklace and recite either a prayer to St. Bede or a prayer written by him. Wearing St. Bede the Venerable medal offers inspiration to read the Scriptures and persevere on the road to Jesus Christ.

Copyright (c) 2011 Beverly Johnson