About St. Cuthbert
The Story of St. Cuthbert
Born not far from Melrose in about 635AD,
Cuthbert's early years were filled with events pointing
to his future as the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon saints.
After seeing a vision of the soul of Saint Aidan being escorted
to heaven by angels, Cuthbert decided to become a monk and
entered Melrose Abbey. Sometime later, he went to Ripon
and became guest-master there, with the special duty of
welcoming and tending to strangers and other visitors. When
Saint Wilfrid was made abbot of Ripon, Cuthbert returned
to Melrose and, surviving an outbreak of plague, became
Prior. After several years, Cuthbert was appointed as Prior
of Lindisfarne, a much larger community.
As Prior, Cuthbert governed gently and faithfully but yearned
to be alone with God and so was given permission to go to
the Inner Farne, a few miles off-shore from Lindisfarne,
to devote himself to prayer and contemplation. However,
his holiness continued to be spoken of throughout the country
and, following a meeting of bishops, King Ecgfrith persuaded
a reluctant Cuthbert to leave his island retreat and to
become Bishop of Lindisfarne. He fulfilled his ministry
with great tenderness and energy, but the Farnes called
to him again.
After two years as Bishop, Cuthbert resigned and retired
into solitude, devoting himself to prayer and preparing
himself for his own death. When death came, on 20th March
687AD, he was buried in the monastery at Lindisfarne, where
he remained for nearly 200 years before the monks fled from
the invading Vikings, taking Cuthbert's body with them on
their journey. After spending over 100 years at Chester-le-Street,
the monks eventually brought the body of Cuthbert to Durham,
where it remains to this day.
The Deeds of Cuthbert
Cuthbert was so skilful a speaker, and had
such a light in his angelic face, and such a love for proclaiming
his message, that none presumed to hide his inmost secrets,
but all openly confessed their wrong-doing.....He used mainly
to visit and preach in the villages that lay far distant
among high and inaccessible mountains, which others feared
to visit and whose barbarity and squalor daunted other teachers.
(Bede's Ecclesiastical History)
The Words of Cuthbert
Speaking to his companions just before his
death: Live in mutual harmony with all other servants of
Christ. Do not despise those faithful who come to you seeking
hospitality. Receive them, put them up, and set them on
their way with kindness, treating them as one of yourselves.
Do not ever think yourselves better than your companions
who share the same faith and follow the monastic life.
