SAINT FEAST DAY 6 MAY: ST EADBERT

SAINT EADBERT, BISHOP

Venerable Bede assures us, that Saint Eadbert excelled both in the knowledge of the holy scriptures, and in the observance of the divine precepts. All his life-time he was remarkable for his alms-deeds, and it was a law with him to lay aside yearly the tenth part of his goods for the poor.

BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE

He was ordained successor to Saint Cuthbert, in the see of Lindisfarne, in 687, and most worthily governed that church eleven years. It was his custom twice a year in Lent, and during forty days before Christmas, to retire into a solitary place, encompassed by the waters of the sea, where Saint Cuthbert had for some time served God in private before he went to the isle of Ferne. Saint Eadbert spent this time remote from all company, in abstinence, prayers, and tears.

ST CUTHBERT'S BODY WAS FOUND TO BE INCORRUPT

Saint Cuthbert had been buried about eleven years, when the brethren desired, with the approbation of Eadbert, to take up the bones of that eminent servant of God, whose life had been signalised by many illustrious miracles. Instead of dust, to which they expected they were reduced, to their great surprise they found the body as entire, and the joints all as pliable as if it had been living: all the vestments and clothes in which it was laid were also sound, and wonderfully fresh and bright. The monks made haste to inform the holy bishop, who was then in his Lent retreat, and they brought him part of the garments which covered the holy body. These he devoutly kissed, and ordered that the blessed body should be laid in other garments, put into the new coffin which was made for the holy relics, and, for greater veneration, placed above the pavement in the sanctuary. He added, that the grave which had been sanctified by so great a miracle of heavenly grace, would not remain long empty.

ST EADBERT'S BODY WAS PLACED IN ST CUTHBERT'S GRAVE

This was accordingly done, and presently after Eadbert, the bishop beloved of God, fell dangerously sick, and his distemper daily increasing, on May 6 following he departed to our Lord. His body was laid in Saint Cuthbert’s grave, and over the place was deposited the uncorrupted body of that glorious servant of God. "Miracles here wrought from time to time, in curing the sick, bear testimony to the merits of them both," says Bede. The same historian informs us, that St Eadbert covered with lead the church of Lindisfarne, which was dedicated by the archbishop Theodorus, under the patronage of St Peter. It had been formerly built by bishop Finan, after the Scottish fashion, of oak boards, and thatched with reeds. Saint Eadbert is named on this day in the Roman Martyrology.

Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Eadbert may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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