British Saints

St Bede: humble St Chad taught by example

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March 3, 2012
St Mary's Church, Lastingham, North Yorkshire. © Philip Barker (Geograph). Licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence.

Thou didst put to sleep the lusts of the passions, O Chad, for thou didst take hold of night-long vigils, obedience, and humility, and the study of the divine Scriptures, and also a pure heart and an untroubled heart's eye.
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St Patrick and St David

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March 1, 2012
Detail from a stained glass window of St David of Wales.

"God," said he, "hath not disposed this place for thee, but for a son who is not yet born, nor will he be born until thirty years are past."
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Rhygyvarch: St David modelled himself on the Desert Fathers

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March 1, 2012
St David's Cathedral, St David's, Pembrokeshire. © Pauline Eccles (Geograph). Licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence.

He was wont to spend the whole day, unshaken and unwearied, in teaching, praying, and genuflecting, in care for the brethren, and also in feeding a multitude of the bereft, orphans, widows, the needy, the weak, the infirm, and pilgrims.
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Like lightning on their pure hearts as upon a mirror, the gospel has shone out on all

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February 23, 2012
The ruins of the 12th century Priory of St Milburge (Mildburh) in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. © Chris Downer (Geograph), licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence.

Thou art become a written memorial of the new law; thou bearest inscribed deep upon thee, not with ink but with the divine Spirit, the gospel of divine grace.
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St Finan of Lindisfarne, a godly-minded watchman

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February 17, 2012
A rainbow appears to set Church Island aglow, in Lough Currane, County Kerry, Ireland. © Flickr user michele_p, licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence.

I have thee as succourer of my life, and helper of my salvation, and godly-minded watchman, who giveth assurance to them that cry out in faith: O God of our fathers, blessed art thou.
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St Bede: There is no nourishment in secularised religion

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February 15, 2012
Psyllium husk. © User Bastique (Cary Bass), Wikimedia Commons. Licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence.

Just as bread can be compared to the word of God which refreshes the mind, so too a hollow pod (more for bulking up than for use) can be compared to secular wisdom.
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A prayer of St Gildas the Wise

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January 29, 2012
Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, the Grand-Mont at sun rise (Morbihan, France). © User Romary, Wikimedia Commons. Licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence.

I thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, that upon us the light of Thy righteousness has shone at last, and eternal peace now reigns within us.
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All ye that in Christ have been baptized have put on Christ (Chant)

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January 12, 2012
Orthodox monks chanting

St Benedict Biscop (c. 628-690) was devoted to sacred chant and art, even borrowing the head chanter of St Peter's in Rome to ensure that the English Church had truly sacred music.
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St Bede praises the talents and humility of St Adrian

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January 9, 2012
St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. © Nigel Chadwick (Geograph), licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence.

The pope, sending for him, commanded him to accept of the bishopric, and repair into Britain; he answered, that he was unworthy of so great a dignity.
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St Bede: Our true and more complete circumcision

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January 1, 2012
St Peter's Church in Wearmouth. © Andrew Curtis, Geograph. Licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

For the one purified by true circumcision goes into the Temple of the Lord when, by the fruits of good works, he enters into the everlasting joy of his citizenship above.
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