[[Image:Saintbede.jpg|right|thumb|250px| St. Bede the Venerable]]

'''Bede the Venerable''' (b. 673; died 735) was an [[Anglo-Saxon]] monk and scholar who lived at the Northumbrian monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow. Among his writings were the most widely read exegetical and didactic treatises of the Middle Ages. His Ecclesiastical History of the English People, sometimes called "the finest historical work of the Middle Ages," <ref>[http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html The Venerable Bede] Britannia Biographies</ref> has become the single most important source for early Anglo-Saxon history. His other works included widely used chronological treatises and several important pieces of hagiography.

Bede was made [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.

==Life==

Nearly everything known about Bede is contained in the short autobiography he appended to his Ecclesiastical History:

::I, Bede, servant of [[Christ]] and priest of the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul which is at [[Wearmouth]] and [[Jarrow]], have, with the help of [[God]] and to the best of my ability, put together this account of the history of the church of [[Britain]] and of the English people in particular, gleaned either from ancient documents or from tradition or from my own knowledge. I was born in the territory of this monastery. When I was seven years of age I was, by the care of my kinsmen, put into the charge of the reverend [[Benedict Biscop|Abbot Benedict]] and then of [[Ceolfrith]], to be educated. From then on I have spent all my life in this monastery, applying myself entirely to the study of the Scriptures; and, amid the observance of the discipline of the Rule and the daily task of singing in the church, it has always been my delight to learn or to teach or to write. At the age of nineteen I was ordained deacon and at the age of thirty, priest, both times through the ministration of the reverend Bishop John on the direction of Abbot Ceolfrith. From the time I became a priest until the fifty-ninth year of my life I have made it my business, for my own benefit and that of my brothers, to make brief extracts from the works of the venerable fathers on the holy [[Bible|Scriptures]], or to add notes of my own to clarify their sense and interpretation.<ref>Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, ed. and trans. J. McClure and R. Collins (Oxford, 1994), 293.</ref>

As he writes, Bede was entrusted to the care of the Abbot St. Benedict Biscop when he was seven years old. By 685, he was moved to Biscop’s newer monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/bedesworld-monastic.php</ref>, a few miles to the north on the [[River Tyne]]. He spent the rest of his life as a monk at Jarrow.

==Works==
Monasteries were nodes of scholarship in early medieval [[Europe]]. This would be where Bede would create in sheer breadth, depth and quality, the fifty plus works he produced. His greatest, Historia Ecclesiastica, consisting of five volumes, is of the [[Church]] using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism. It had fulfilled its purpose of preparing Western [[Christianity]] to assimilate the non-Roman barbarian North. He clearly states his purpose in his writings, "For if history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records evil of wicked men, the good, religious reader or listener is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and perverse, and to follow what he knows to be good and pleasing to God."

Bede's earliest Biblical commentary was probably that on the book of Revelation. He interpreted the bible mainly as an allegory, applied criticism and tried to solve discrepancies. This was extremely popular in this period of time and his reputation spread feverishly across the monasteries of Europe. Bede's two chronological works, ''On Times'' and ''On the Reckoning of Time'' (De temporibus and De temporum ratione), establishing the dates for Easter and equating the number of the years of [[Jesus Christ]]'s life. Bede popularized the Anno Domini ('Year of Our Lord') dating system. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Death==
Even on the day of his death, Bede was still busy dictating a translation of the [[Gospel of John]]. Bede died peacefully in 735 and was buried at Jarrow before being moved inside Durham Cathedral.<ref>http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/gallery/bede</ref>. He was already renowned among his peers, being described by Bishop Boniface as having "shone forth as a lantern in the world by his scriptural commentary." The title Venerable seems to have been associated with him approximately within two generations after his death.

==Quotes==
* "And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face."

* "He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor."

==External Links==
* [http://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010529_beda_en.html Homily by Saint Bede the Venerable]
* [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/bede.html Bede at The Latin Library]
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.html Bede's Ecclesiastical History in translation]
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Historians]]

Bede the Venerable

2009-05-04T03:05:03Z

EdgarC: added some external links

[[Image:Saintbede.jpg|right|thumb|250px| St. Bede the Venerable]]

'''Bede the Venerable''' (b. 673; died 735) was an [[Anglo-Saxon]] monk and scholar who lived at the Northumbrian monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow. Among his writings were the most widely read exegetical and didactic treatises of the Middle Ages. His Ecclesiastical History of the English People has become the single most important source for early Anglo-Saxon history. Bede's other writings cover a broad spectrum including natural history, poetry, Biblical translation and exposition of the scriptures.<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/academic-bede.php</ref> The culture of Italy had been brought to [[Britain]] and it was combined with the simpler traditions, devotions and evangelism of the Celtic church. Bede's writings are considered the best summary of this period in history ever prepared. Some have called it "the finest historical work of the early Middle Ages." <ref>[http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html The Venerable Bede] Britannia Biographies</ref> Bede was made [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.

==Life==

Nearly everything known about Bede is contained in the short autobiography he appended to his Ecclesiastical History:

::I, Bede, servant of [[Christ]] and priest of the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul which is at [[Wearmouth]] and [[Jarrow]], have, with the help of [[God]] and to the best of my ability, put together this account of the history of the church of [[Britain]] and of the English people in particular, gleaned either from ancient documents or from tradition or from my own knowledge. I was born in the territory of this monastery. When I was seven years of age I was, by the care of my kinsmen, put into the charge of the reverend [[Benedict Biscop|Abbot Benedict]] and then of [[Ceolfrith]], to be educated. From then on I have spent all my life in this monastery, applying myself entirely to the study of the Scriptures; and, amid the observance of the discipline of the Rule and the daily task of singing in the church, it has always been my delight to learn or to teach or to write. At the age of nineteen I was ordained deacon and at the age of thirty, priest, both times through the ministration of the reverend Bishop John on the direction of Abbot Ceolfrith. From the time I became a priest until the fifty-ninth year of my life I have made it my business, for my own benefit and that of my brothers, to make brief extracts from the works of the venerable fathers on the holy [[Bible|Scriptures]], or to add notes of my own to clarify their sense and interpretation.<ref>Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, ed. and trans. J. McClure and R. Collins (Oxford, 1994), 293.</ref>

As he writes, Bede was entrusted to the care of the Abbot St. Benedict Biscop when he was seven years old. By 685, he was moved to Biscop’s newer monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/bedesworld-monastic.php</ref>, a few miles to the north on the [[River Tyne]]. He spent the rest of his life as a monk at Jarrow.

==Works==
Monasteries were nodes of scholarship in early medieval [[Europe]]. This would be where Bede would create in sheer breadth, depth and quality, the fifty plus works he produced. His greatest, Historia Ecclesiastica, consisting of five volumes, is of the [[Church]] using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism. It had fulfilled its purpose of preparing Western [[Christianity]] to assimilate the non-Roman barbarian North. He clearly states his purpose in his writings, "For if history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records evil of wicked men, the good, religious reader or listener is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and perverse, and to follow what he knows to be good and pleasing to God."

Bede's earliest Biblical commentary was probably that on the book of Revelation. He interpreted the bible mainly as an allegory, applied criticism and tried to solve discrepancies. This was extremely popular in this period of time and his reputation spread feverishly across the monasteries of Europe. Bede's two chronological works, ''On Times'' and ''On the Reckoning of Time'' (De temporibus and De temporum ratione), establishing the dates for Easter and equating the number of the years of [[Jesus Christ]]'s life. Bede popularized the Anno Domini ('Year of Our Lord') dating system. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Death==
Even on the day of his death, Bede was still busy dictating a translation of the [[Gospel of John]]. Bede died peacefully in 735 and was buried at Jarrow before being moved inside Durham Cathedral.<ref>http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/gallery/bede</ref>. He was already renowned among his peers, being described by Bishop Boniface as having "shone forth as a lantern in the world by his scriptural commentary." The title Venerable seems to have been associated with him approximately within two generations after his death.

==Quotes==
* "And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face."

* "He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor."

==External Links==
* [http://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010529_beda_en.html Homily by Saint Bede the Venerable]
* [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/bede.html Bede at The Latin Library]
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.html Bede's Ecclesiastical History in translation]
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Historians]]

2009-05-04T00:16:48Z

EdgarC: /* Works */ slight correction

[[Image:Saintbede.jpg|right|thumb|250px| St. Bede the Venerable]]

'''Bede the Venerable''' (b. 673; died 735) was simplistic [[Anglo-Saxon]] man full of piety. An extraordinary scholar, perhaps the most outstanding one of his day. He learned the love of scholarship, personal devotion and discipline. He mastered [[Latin]], [[Greek]], [[Hebrew]] and had a good knowledge of the classical scholars and early church fathers. Eagerly sought by kings and other notables, including Pope Sergius. Bede is best known for his works ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People''. Bede's writings cover a broad spectrum including natural history, poetry, Biblical translation and exposition of the scriptures.<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/academic-bede.php</ref> The culture of Italy had been brought to [[Britain]] and it was combined with the simpler traditions, devotions and evangelism of the Celtic church. Bede's writings are considered the best summary of this period in history ever prepared. Some have called it "the finest historical work of the early Middle Ages." <ref>[http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html The Venerable Bede] Britannia Biographies</ref> Bede was made [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.

==Early Life==

Little is known of Bede's childhood, and nothing is known of his parents other than he was living on land belonging to the newly founded Monastery of St. Peter, based in Wearmouth. He is believed to have been born at Monkton, [[South Tyneside]], north-east [[England]] - then part of the kingdom of [[Northumbria]]<ref>http://www.visitsunderland.com/history_and_heritage/stpeters.html</ref>. At age seven, Bede was entrusted to the care of the Abbot St. Benedict Biscop. By 685, he was moved to Biscop’s newer Monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/bedesworld-monastic.php</ref>, a few miles to the north on the [[River Tyne]]. He spent the rest of his life as a monk at Jarrow, first being taught and then teaching monastic rule. Original stonework from both monasteries still exists, as part of later medieval church buildings, and Monkwearmouth-Jarrow has been approved as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].
He was ordained as a deacon at age 19 and a priest at age 30 by Saint John of Beverley in 702. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Works==
Monasteries were nodes of scholarship in early medieval [[Europe]]. This would be where Bede would create in sheer breadth, depth and quality, the fifty plus works he produced. His greatest, Historia Ecclesiastica, consisting of five volumes, is of the [[Church]] using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism. It had fulfilled its purpose of preparing Western [[Christianity]] to assimilate the non-Roman barbarian North. He clearly states his purpose in his writings, "For if history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records evil of wicked men, the good, religious reader or listener is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and perverse, and to follow what he knows to be good and pleasing to God."

Bede's earliest Biblical commentary was probably that on the book of Revelation. He interpreted the bible mainly as an allegory, applied criticism and tried to solve discrepancies. This was extremely popular in this period of time and his reputation spread feverishly across the monasteries of Europe. Bede's two chronological works, ''On Times'' and ''On the Reckoning of Time'' (De temporibus and De temporum ratione), establishing the dates for Easter and equating the number of the years of [[Jesus Christ]]'s life. Bede popularized the Anno Domini ('Year of Our Lord') dating system. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Death==
Even on the day of his death, Bede was still busy dictating a translation of the [[Gospel of John]]. Bede died peacefully in 735 and was buried at Jarrow before being moved inside Durham Cathedral.<ref>http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/gallery/bede</ref>. He was already renowned among his peers, being described by Bishop Boniface as having "shone forth as a lantern in the world by his scriptural commentary." The title Venerable seems to have been associated with him approximately within two generations after his death.

==Quotes==
* "And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face."

* "He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor."

==See Also==
* [http://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010529_beda_en.html Homily by Saint Bede the Venerable]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Historians]]

Bede the Venerable

2009-05-04T00:15:17Z

EdgarC: /* Death */

[[Image:Saintbede.jpg|right|thumb|250px| St. Bede the Venerable]]

'''Bede the Venerable''' (b. 673; died 735) was simplistic [[Anglo-Saxon]] man full of piety. An extraordinary scholar, perhaps the most outstanding one of his day. He learned the love of scholarship, personal devotion and discipline. He mastered [[Latin]], [[Greek]], [[Hebrew]] and had a good knowledge of the classical scholars and early church fathers. Eagerly sought by kings and other notables, including Pope Sergius. Bede is best known for his works ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People''. Bede's writings cover a broad spectrum including natural history, poetry, Biblical translation and exposition of the scriptures.<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/academic-bede.php</ref> The culture of Italy had been brought to [[Britain]] and it was combined with the simpler traditions, devotions and evangelism of the Celtic church. Bede's writings are considered the best summary of this period in history ever prepared. Some have called it "the finest historical work of the early Middle Ages." <ref>[http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html The Venerable Bede] Britannia Biographies</ref> Bede was made [[Doctor of the Church]] by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.

==Early Life==

Little is known of Bede's childhood, and nothing is known of his parents other than he was living on land belonging to the newly founded Monastery of St. Peter, based in Wearmouth. He is believed to have been born at Monkton, [[South Tyneside]], north-east [[England]] - then part of the kingdom of [[Northumbria]]<ref>http://www.visitsunderland.com/history_and_heritage/stpeters.html</ref>. At age seven, Bede was entrusted to the care of the Abbot St. Benedict Biscop. By 685, he was moved to Biscop’s newer Monastery of St. Paul at Jarrow<ref>http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/bedesworld-monastic.php</ref>, a few miles to the north on the [[River Tyne]]. He spent the rest of his life as a monk at Jarrow, first being taught and then teaching monastic rule. Original stonework from both monasteries still exists, as part of later medieval church buildings, and Monkwearmouth-Jarrow has been approved as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].
He was ordained as a deacon at age 19 and a priest at age 30 by Saint John of Beverley in 702. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Works==
Monasteries were nodes of scholarship in early medieval [[Europe]]. This would be where Bede would create in sheer breadth, depth and quality, the fifty plus works he produced. His greatest, Historia Ecclesiastica, consisting of five volumes, is of the [[Church]] using the power of its spiritual, doctrinal, and cultural unity to stamp out violence and barbarism. It had fulfilled its purpose of preparing Western [[Christianity]] to assimilate the non-Roman barbarian North. He clearly states his purpose in his writings, "For if history records good things of good men, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records evil of wicked men, the good, religious reader or listener is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and perverse, and to follow what he knows to be good and pleasing to God."

Bede's earliest Biblical commentary was probably that on the book of Revelation. He interpreted the bible mainly as an allegory, applied criticism and tried to solve discrepancies. This was extremely popular in this period of time and his reputation spread feverishly across the monasteries of Europe. Bede's two chronological works, ''On Times'' and ''On the Reckoning of Time'' (De temporibus and De temporum ratione), establishing the dates for Easter and equating the number of the years of [[Jesus Christ]]'s life. Bede invented the use of A.D., 'The Year Of Our Lord'. <ref>[http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/ukandireland/p/prbede.htm Bede] About.com</ref>

==Death==
Even on the day of his death, Bede was still busy dictating a translation of the [[Gospel of John]]. Bede died peacefully in 735 and was buried at Jarrow before being moved inside Durham Cathedral.<ref>http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/introduction/gallery/bede</ref>. He was already renowned among his peers, being described by Bishop Boniface as having "shone forth as a lantern in the world by his scriptural commentary." The title Venerable seems to have been associated with him approximately within two generations after his death.

==Quotes==
* "And I pray thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou wouldst mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face."

* "He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor."

==See Also==
* [http://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010529_beda_en.html Homily by Saint Bede the Venerable]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Historians]]