Why is st aidan a saint

The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline. Little is known of St Aidan's early life, except that he was of Irish descent and upbringing. He seems to have served from a young age at the monastery founded by St Columba on Iona.

Roman Britain had been a Christian society by the time the Romans withdrew, but under the Anglo-Saxons it later reverted to paganism. The turning point came as a result of Oswald of Northumbria, later known as Saint Oswald, who had been in exile on Iona from the age of 12 in Oswald was baptized as a Christian, and when he became King of Northumbria in he invited monks from the monastery on Iona to help him convert his subjects to Christianity.

Aidan chose the island of Lindisfarne as his base, and founded a monastery there. Aidan lived a frugal life, and encouraged the laity to fast and study the scriptures. He himself fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, and seldom ate at the royal table.

Aidan tirelessly engaged in preaching and pastoral work. He traveled mainly by foot and visited all he came across. As St. Bede tells us; "Whether rich or poor, if unbelievers, to embrace the mystery of the faith, or, if already Christians, he would strengthen them in the faith and stir them up, by words and actions, to alms and good works. He was accustomed not only to teach the people committed to his charge in church, but also feeling for the weakness of a new-born faith, to wander round the provinces, to go into the houses of the faithful, and to sow the seeds of God's Word in their hearts, according to the capacity of each.

When a feast was set before him he would give the food away to the hungry. The presents he received were given to the poor or used to buy the freedom of slaves, some of whom entered the priesthood. During Lent Aidan would retire to the small island of Farne for prayer and penance. Aidan had to ensure that his efforts did not die with himself and his Ionian monks.

Aidan realized from the first the value of education and established a school in order to train the next generation of Christian leaders for Northumbria. He began with twelve boys, who learned the practical work of being monks, priests and missionaries by observing and working with the older monks.

The monastery he founded grew and helped found other monasteries throughout the area. It also became a center of learning and a storehouse of scholarly knowledge. Aidan and King Oswald worked hand in hand, especially at first, since St. Aidan and his monks could not speak the language of the people. King Oswald translated for them until they became proficient in English.

King Oswin was appointed as Oswald's successor. He also supported Aidan's apostolate. Aidan preached widely throughout Northumbria, traveling on foot, so that he could readily talk to everyone he met. On one particular Easter feast, Aidan got to observe the effect he had on the king. As a silver platter full of rich foods was placed on their table, a servant entered the dining hall to inform the king and bishop of a multitude begging for alms outside the gates.

Before Aidan could speak, Oswald immediately ordered all the food to be distributed to the beggars and for the silver plates to be broken into pieces and given to them.

A loving bishop with a missionary zeal can seem a rare thing these days. Aidan of Lindisfarne shows us that such a bishop can change history. From his rocky monastery, missionaries would travel throughout Britain and parts of Europe with the same missionary zeal of their founder. Along with numerous parishes and monasteries, the monks of Lindisfarne also gave us The Lindisfarne Gospels , an illuminated manuscript and medieval treasure.

On his feast day, and every day, we can turn to St. Aidan in prayer for a renewal of our Church and in hopes that God can send us another missionary saint. Tagged as: Bede , Best of Week , saints , St. Aidan of Lindisfarne , Venerable Bede. Michael J. Lichens is the Editor of Catholic Exchange. When he's not revising and editing, he is often found studying and writing about GK Chesterton, Religion and Literature, or random points of local history.

He holds an A. Don't Neglect Your Vocation to Holiness. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. Email Login. Catholic Exchange.

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