Saint Cuthbert, the wonderworker of Britain, was born in Northumbria around 634.
During our Weeks 1 -13: Following in St. Aidan's Footsteps on this blog, he was mentioned many times.
While the saint was young,
he would tend his master’s sheep in the Lammermuir hills south of Edinburgh
near the River Leader. One night while he was praying, he had a vision of
angels taking the soul of Saint Aidan (August 31, 651) to heaven in a fiery
sphere. Cuthbert awakened the other shepherds and told them what he had seen. A
few days later they learned that Bishop Aidan of Lindisfarne had reposed at the
very hour that Cuthbert had seen his vision.
As an adult, Saint Cuthbert decided to give up his life in
the world and advanced to better things. He entered the monastery at Melrose in
the valley of the Tweed, where he was received by the abbot Saint Boisil.
A few years later, Saint Eata chose some monks of Melrose to
live at the new monastery at Ripon. Among them was Saint Cuthbert. Both Eata
and Cuthbert were expelled from Ripon and sent back to Melrose in 661 because
they (and some other monks) refused to follow the Roman calculation for the
date of Pascha. The Celtic Church, which followed a different, older reckoning,
resisted Roman practices for a long time. However, in 664 the Synod of Whitby
determined that the Roman customs were superior to those of the Celtic Church
and should be adopted by all.
Saint Cuthbert was chosen to be abbot of Melrose after the
death of Saint Boisil, guiding the brethren by his words and by his example. He
made journeys throughout the surrounding area to encourage Christians and to
preach the Gospel to those who had never heard it. Sometimes he would be away
from the monastery for a month at a time, teaching and preaching. He also
worked many miracles, healing the sick and freeing those who were possessed by
demons.
In 664, Cuthbert went with Saint Eata to Lindisfarne, and
extended his territory to include the inhabitants of Northumberland and Durham.
Soon Saint Eata appointed Cuthbert as prior of Lindisfarne (Holy Island). While
at Lindisfarne, Saint Cuthbert continued his habit of visiting the common
people in order to inspire them to seek the Kingdom of Heaven.
Saint Cuthbert was a true father to his monks, but his soul longed for complete solitude, so he went to live on a small island (Saint Cuthbert’s Isle), a short distance from Lindisfarne.
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| St. Cuthbert's Island |
In 676, he retired to Inner Farne, an even more remote location, here he remained for nearly nine years. A synod at Twyford elected Cuthbert Bishop of Hexham in 684. Letters and messengers were sent to inform him of the synod’s decision, but he refused to leave his solitude. The King and Bishop went to him in person, entreating him in Christ’s name to accept. At last, Saint Cuthbert came forth and with great reluctance, he submitted to the will of the synod and accepted the office of bishop. Almost immediately, he exchanged Sees with Saint Eata, and became Bishop of Lindisfarne while Saint Eata went to Hexham.
Bishop Cuthbert remained as humble as he had been before his
consecration, avoiding finery and dressing in simple clothing. He fulfilled his
office with dignity and graciousness, while continuing to live as a monk. Three
years later he surrendered his holy soul to God on March 20, 687.
