Difference between revisions of "Saint Aidan" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| − | [[Bede]]'s meticulous and detailed account of Saint Aidan's life provides the basis for most biographical sketches (both classical and modern). One notable lacuna, which (somewhat paradoxically) reinforces the notion of Bede's reliability, is that virtually nothing is known of the monk's early life, save that he was a monk at the ancient monastery on the island of [[Iona]] ([[Scotland]]) from a relatively young age and that he was of Irish descent.<ref>See Bede's [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book3.html ''Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation''] (Book III); Farmer, 8.</ref> | + | [[Bede]]'s meticulous and detailed account of Saint Aidan's life provides the basis for most biographical sketches (both classical and modern). One notable lacuna, which (somewhat paradoxically) reinforces the notion of Bede's reliability, is that virtually nothing is known of the monk's early life, save that he was a monk at the ancient monastery on the island of [[Iona]] ([[Scotland]]) from a relatively young age and that he was of Irish descent.<ref>See Bede's [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book3.html ''Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation''] (Book III); Farmer, 8.</ref> As a result, it is from these two scant details that the present exposition begins as well. |
===Religio-Political Context=== | ===Religio-Political Context=== | ||
| − | + | In the years prior to Aidan's mission, Christianity, which had been propagated throughout the British Isles by the [[Roman Empire]], was being largely displaced by [[paganism]]. Though it seemed a forgone conclusions that the region was returning to its indigenous religion, bastions of Christian thought continued to thrive in Ireland and Scotland. In one of these, the monastery of Iona (founded by [[Saint Columba]]), the religion soon found one of its principle exponents in [[Saint Oswald|Oswald of Northumbria]], a noble youth who had been raised there as a king in exile since 616 C.E. Divested of his earlier beliefs and [[baptism|baptized]] as a Christian, the young king vowed to bring Christianity back to his people—an opportunity that presented itself in 634, when he gained the crown of Northumbria.<ref>Baring-Gould, 63-70; Bede's [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book3.html ''Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation''] (Book III).</ref> | |
| − | Owing to his | + | Owing to his historical connection to Iona's monastic community, King Oswald requested that missionaries be sent from that monastery instead of the Roman-sponsored monasteries of Southern England. At first, they sent him a bishop named Corman, but he returned in abject failure to Iona and reported that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be converted. Aidan criticised Corman's methods and was soon sent as his replacement in 635.<ref name=Powicke237>Powicke ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 237</ref> |
| + | ===The Misson of Saint Aidan=== | ||
| + | Allying himself with the pious king, Aidan chose the island of [[Lindisfarne]], which was close to the royal castle at [[Bamburgh]], as the seat of his [[diocese]]. An inspired missionary, Aidan would walk from one village to another, politely conversing with the people he saw and slowly interesting them in Christianity: in this, he followed the early apostolic model of conversion, by offering "them first the milk of gentle doctrine, to bring them by degrees, while nourishing them with the Divine Word, to the true understanding and practice of the more advanced precepts."<ref>Baring-Gould, 392.</ref> By patiently talking to the people on their own level (and by taking an active interest in their lives and communities), Aidan and his monks slowly restored Christianity to the Northumbrian countryside. During the early years of their missionizing, King Oswald, who had learned Irish during his exile, often had to translate for Aidan and his monks, who initially lacked a facility for the English tongue.<ref>Hole, 110-111.</ref> | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | <slaves> | ||
| + | <reputation for charity> | ||
| + | Aidan also took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, to ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English. | ||
| + | According to legend, the king gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan gave the horse to a beggar. | ||
| + | The monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other monasteries throughout the area. It also became a centre of learning and a storehouse of scholarly knowledge. | ||
| − | + | When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King [[Oswine of Deira]] and the two became close friends. | |
| − | |||
In [[651]] a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls ablaze. According to legend, Aidan prayed for the city, after which the winds turned and blew the smoke and fire toward the enemy, repulsing them. | In [[651]] a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls ablaze. According to legend, Aidan prayed for the city, after which the winds turned and blew the smoke and fire toward the enemy, repulsing them. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 62: | ||
Aidan's friend Oswine of Deira was murdered in [[651]]. Twelve days later Aidan died, on [[August 31]], in the 17th year of his [[bishop|episcopate]].<ref name=Powicke237/> He had become ill while at the Bamburgh castle and died leaning against the wall of the local church. | Aidan's friend Oswine of Deira was murdered in [[651]]. Twelve days later Aidan died, on [[August 31]], in the 17th year of his [[bishop|episcopate]].<ref name=Powicke237/> He had become ill while at the Bamburgh castle and died leaning against the wall of the local church. | ||
| − | + | Saint Aidan's feast day is on [[31 August]]. | |
{{start box}} | {{start box}} | ||
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* Farmer, David Hugh. ''The Oxford Dictionary of Saints''. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582. | * Farmer, David Hugh. ''The Oxford Dictionary of Saints''. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582. | ||
* Grattan-Flood, W.H. "Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne" in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01233d.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia]. 1909. | * Grattan-Flood, W.H. "Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne" in [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01233d.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia]. 1909. | ||
| + | * Hole, Christina. ''Saints in Folklore''. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1966. | ||
* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' (2nd Edition). London: Royal Historical Society, 1961. | * Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' (2nd Edition). London: Royal Historical Society, 1961. | ||
Revision as of 19:23, 16 September 2007
| Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bishop | |
| Died | August 31, 651 in Parish Churchyard, Bamburgh, Northumberland |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church |
| Major shrine | originally Lindisfarne Abbey, Northumberland; later disputed between Iona Abbey & Glastonbury Abbey (all destroyed). |
| Feast | 31 August (Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion), June 9 (Lutheran Church) |
| Attributes | Monk holding a flaming torch; stag |
| Patronage | Northumbria; Firefighters |
Saint Aidan[1] of Lindisfarne, the Apostle of Northumbria (died 651), was an Irish monk who heeded King Oswald's call to revivify English Christianity. In his missionary labors, he founded a monastic cathedral on the island of Lindisfarne (England), served as its first bishop, and traveled ceaselessly throughout the countryside, spreading the gospel to both the Anglo-Saxon nobility and to the socially disenfranchised (including children and slaves). His influence was such that the Venerable Bede dedicates much of the third book of his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation to describing this gentle and charitable monk's exploits.
- "Augustine was the Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was the Apostle of the English." - Bishop Lightfoot
Biography
Bede's meticulous and detailed account of Saint Aidan's life provides the basis for most biographical sketches (both classical and modern). One notable lacuna, which (somewhat paradoxically) reinforces the notion of Bede's reliability, is that virtually nothing is known of the monk's early life, save that he was a monk at the ancient monastery on the island of Iona (Scotland) from a relatively young age and that he was of Irish descent.[2] As a result, it is from these two scant details that the present exposition begins as well.
Religio-Political Context
In the years prior to Aidan's mission, Christianity, which had been propagated throughout the British Isles by the Roman Empire, was being largely displaced by paganism. Though it seemed a forgone conclusions that the region was returning to its indigenous religion, bastions of Christian thought continued to thrive in Ireland and Scotland. In one of these, the monastery of Iona (founded by Saint Columba), the religion soon found one of its principle exponents in Oswald of Northumbria, a noble youth who had been raised there as a king in exile since 616 C.E. Divested of his earlier beliefs and baptized as a Christian, the young king vowed to bring Christianity back to his people—an opportunity that presented itself in 634, when he gained the crown of Northumbria.[3]
Owing to his historical connection to Iona's monastic community, King Oswald requested that missionaries be sent from that monastery instead of the Roman-sponsored monasteries of Southern England. At first, they sent him a bishop named Corman, but he returned in abject failure to Iona and reported that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be converted. Aidan criticised Corman's methods and was soon sent as his replacement in 635.[4]
The Misson of Saint Aidan
Allying himself with the pious king, Aidan chose the island of Lindisfarne, which was close to the royal castle at Bamburgh, as the seat of his diocese. An inspired missionary, Aidan would walk from one village to another, politely conversing with the people he saw and slowly interesting them in Christianity: in this, he followed the early apostolic model of conversion, by offering "them first the milk of gentle doctrine, to bring them by degrees, while nourishing them with the Divine Word, to the true understanding and practice of the more advanced precepts."[5] By patiently talking to the people on their own level (and by taking an active interest in their lives and communities), Aidan and his monks slowly restored Christianity to the Northumbrian countryside. During the early years of their missionizing, King Oswald, who had learned Irish during his exile, often had to translate for Aidan and his monks, who initially lacked a facility for the English tongue.[6]
<slaves>
<reputation for charity>
Aidan also took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, to ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English.
According to legend, the king gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan gave the horse to a beggar.
The monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other monasteries throughout the area. It also became a centre of learning and a storehouse of scholarly knowledge.
When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswine of Deira and the two became close friends.
In 651 a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls ablaze. According to legend, Aidan prayed for the city, after which the winds turned and blew the smoke and fire toward the enemy, repulsing them.
Aidan was a member of the Irish branch of Christianity instead of the Roman branch, but his character and energy in missionary work won him the respect of Pope Honorius I and Felix of Dunwich.
Aidan's friend Oswine of Deira was murdered in 651. Twelve days later Aidan died, on August 31, in the 17th year of his episcopate.[4] He had become ill while at the Bamburgh castle and died leaning against the wall of the local church.
Saint Aidan's feast day is on 31 August.
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: — |
Bishop of Lindisfarne 635 - 651 |
Succeeded by: Saint Finan |
Notes
- ↑ Aidan is the anglified form of the original Old Irish Áedán.
- ↑ See Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation (Book III); Farmer, 8.
- ↑ Baring-Gould, 63-70; Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation (Book III).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Powicke Handbook of British Chronology p. 237
- ↑ Baring-Gould, 392.
- ↑ Hole, 110-111.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
- Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine). The Lives of the Saints. With introduction and additional Lives of English martyrs, Cornish, Scottish, and Welsh saints, and a full index to the entire work. Volume I. Edinburgh : J. Grant, 1914.
- The Venerable Bede. The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation. Translated by L.C. Jane. London: J.M. Dent; New York E.P. Dutton, 1910. Accessed online at: Fordham University's Medieval Sourcebook.
- Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints. Edited, revised, and supplemented by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater. Palm Publishers, 1956.
- Farmer, David Hugh. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582.
- Grattan-Flood, W.H. "Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne" in The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1909.
- Hole, Christina. Saints in Folklore. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1966.
- Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde. Handbook of British Chronology (2nd Edition). London: Royal Historical Society, 1961.
External links
All links retrieved September 16, 2007
- Image of a modern statue of Aidan on Lindisfarne
- Biography on Aidan of Lindisfarne by David Golding (PDF)
- Irelandseye.com - Biography of Saint Aidan
- Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne by Reverend Canon Kate Tristram
- Early British Kingdoms: St. Aidan
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