St. Bede the Venerable

St. Bede the Venerable - May 27th

This English priest is famous not only as a Saint, but also as a writer of history. St. Bede loved the Holy Bible very much. He tells us that it was a joy for him to study the Bible, teach it, and write about it.

When sickness forced him to stay in bed, his pupils came to study by his bedside. He kept on teaching them and working on his translation of St. John’s Gospel in English. Many people could now read Latin and he wanted them to be able to read the words of Jesus in their own language. “I do not want my pupils to read false things,” he said.

As he grew worse, St. Bede was happy that he was about to go back to God. His brothers in the monastery wept when he told them that they would not see him again on earth. The Saint kept on working, even though he was dying. At last, the boy who was doing the writing for him said, “There is still one sentence, dear Master, which is not written down.” “Write it quickly,” answered the Saint. When the boy said, “It is finished,” the Saint said, “Good! You are right-it is finished. Now hold my hand so that I may have the happiness to sit facing the place where I used to pray and there call upon my Heavenly Father.” So it was that St. Bede died right after he had sung the “Glory be to the Father.”

Let us not lose time. Our Lord will not reward us for bragging, but for the good deeds we do.