St. Bede (672/673 – 26 May 735), - also known as the Venerable Bede - is widely regarded as the greatest of all the Anglo-Saxon scholars. He wrote around 40 books mainly dealing with theology and history. He is the patron saint of scholars.
He was an English monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouthand of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow (see Monkwearmouth-Jarrow), both in the Kingdom of Northumbria. He is well known as an author and scholar, and his most famous work, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People) gained him the title "The Father of English History".
• Born ca. 673 not recorded, possibly Monkton. • Died 26 May 735 Jarrow, Northumbria • Canonized 1899 recognised as Doctor of the Church, Rome by Pope Leo XIII • Major shrine Durham Cathedral. • Feast 25 May (Western Churches) 27 May (Orthodox Church and General Roman Calendar, between 1899–1969)
Bede is one of the few saints honoured as such (as Venerable) even during his lifetime. His writings were filled with such faith and learning that even while he was still alive, a Church council ordered them to be read publicly in the churches. At an early age Bede was entrusted to the care of the abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul, Jarrow. The happy combination of genius and the instruction of scholarly, saintly monks produced a saint and an extraordinary scholar, perhaps the most outstanding one of his day. He was deeply versed in all the sciences of his times: natural philosophy, the philosophical principles of Aristotle, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, ecclesiastical history, the lives of the saints and, especially, Holy Scripture.
From the time of his ordination to the priesthood at 30 (he had been ordained deacon at 19) till his death, he was ever occupied with