St. Bede, the illustrious ornament of the Anglo-Saxon Church and the first English historian, is universally known as “Venerable Bede.” He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII.

He trained six hundred scholars, who revered him for his piety, learning, and sweet disposition. He left beautiful lives of Anglo-Saxon saints, and his commentaries on the Scriptures are still in use by the Church. He died May 26, 735. Historians relate of him that he passed no time in idleness and never ceased to study; he always read, always wrote, always thought, and always prayed.

(Adapted from The New Roman Missal by Father Lasance).