St. Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Patron of Scholars

St. Bede was born at Jarrow, England, in 673. He joined the Benedictines and was ordained a priest in 702. He was considered far and wide as the most learned man of his day. His written works, most of which are extant, comprise all branches of knowledge: history, rhetoric, cosmography, orthography, astronomy, music, grammar, philosophy, poetry, exegesis and hagiography.

The best known and most authoritative of Bede’s historical works is the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is a complete history up to 731. He died in 735.

PRAYER:  God, you enlightened Your Church by the erudition of the Priest, St. Bede. Grant to Your servant always to exemplify his wisdom and to be aided by his merits. Amen.