Why was our school

named after St. Bede?

Reflection after our
discussion
 Who is San Beda? (St. Bede)
What do you know about him?

Turn to a seatmate and discuss.

2 minutes
Share to the class
 ST. BEDE the VENERABLE

673-735 AD FEAST DAY: MAY 25

WHO IS BEDE THE VENERABLE?

St. Bede’s own description of himself:

“Servant of Christ and Priest of the
Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul
which is at Wearmouth and Jarrow.”

“BEDE” is actually the word for priest in

the old Saxon language!
 WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Baeda in Old English
Beda in Spanish and most other
Romance languages (Latin, Italian,
Portuguese, French) and Filipino
Bede in current English language
 FAMILY and CHILDHOOD
Born around 672/673 AD
He was born and raised in Northumbria,
maybe of noble birth, but some scholars say
he was not.
At seven years old (680 AD), was offered at
Wearmouth Monastery
No extant information about his parents.
Probably not nobles
Remnant of St. Bede’s Monastery in 7th century.
Overview of
St. Bede’s
Monastery
near the river
of Tyne
 MAP
OF
ENGLAND
 EDUCATION and PREPARATION
 Had extensive schooling at
Wearmouth monastery, then
moved to Jarrow Monastery.
Taught by the Abbot Benedict
and Abbot Ceolfrid.
 Received extensive schooling
in the monastery, more than
most noble children of his
time.
 Studied calligraphy in the
scriptorium, grammar, music
and natural sciences
 EDUCATION and PREPARATION
Ordained a DEACON at age 19, earlier than usual
He studied for 11 more years before entering the
priesthood at the age of 30, around the beginning of the
eighth century.

Ordained a priest at 30 years of age

Afterward, Bede took on the responsibility of celebrating
daily Mass for the members of his Benedictine
community, while also working on farming, baking, and
other works of the monastery.
 ICON
of
ST. BEDE
 WORK and MINISTRY
Basic monastic rhythm: Prayer and Study/Work –
Scholarship
Abbot Benedict Biscop travelled much and
brought home with him loads of
manuscripts/books and materials
Bede used all these to compose his own writings –
this was expected
What was unique: BREADTH, DEPTH, and
QUALITY
 Bede declined a request to become abbot of
his monastery.
 Instead, he concentrated on writing, and
produced more than 45 books – primarily
about theology and the Bible, but also on
science, literature, and history.
 He also taught hundreds of students at the
monastery and its school, which became
renowned throughout Britain.
 As a monk, Bede gave absolute priority to
prayer, fasting and charitable hospitality. He
regarded all other works as valueless without
the love of God and one's neighbor.
 During Bede's own lifetime, his spiritual and
intellectual gifts garnered wide recognition.
 Bede, however, was unfazed by these honors.
Old painting

of
ST. BEDE
BEDE, the AUTHOR and COMPOSER
 More than 45 books (manuscript
form)
 Biblical scholar, poet, historian,
scientist, translator, educator
 Authored The Ecclesiastical
History of the English People, his
most famous piece
 Already recognized a saint right
after his death around 735.
Declared the only English Doctor
of the Church by Pope Leo XIII
in 1899.
 OTHER NOTABLE FACTS ABOUT
ST. BEDE
The first to use the time reckoning device of
A.D., or Anno Domini
The first to indicate sources to substantiate his
work
The first to translate portions of the Bible
(Gospel of St. John) into the Old English form
The first historian of England, receiving the
title The Father of English History
Bede died of heart disease, on his death bed he just finish
translating the gospel of John.
He was surround by his students listening to his last words,
Singing praises to God.
St. Bede on his death bed
request “Take my head in
your hands that I may have
the comfort of sitting
opposite the holy place
where I used to pray, and
so sitting may call upon
my Father." And on the
pavement of his cell, the
brothers around him
singing "Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost,“ St.
Bede peacefully breathed
his last.
 THE HOLY DEATH of
ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE
St. Bede died on the eve of the Ascension, May
26, 735 and was buried in Durham Cathedral.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL
 PRAYER in HONOR OF
ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE
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, for ever and ever.