Name ______Date ______

Saint Bede

Directions: Read the biography and answer the questions.

Saint Bede was raised in a Christian monastery during the late 600s and lived his entire adult life as a Benedictine monk until his death in 735. In addition to his monastic life of prayer, Saint Bede was a dedicated student and scholar of history, Scripture, and theology. He personally taught a large number of very influential students within his monastic schools. He is best known for writing the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is one of the most important historical sources of early British history. He also spent a large amount of time writing commentaries on Sacred Scripture. This and his other writings were so well regarded that bishops ordered them to be read in Christian churches through the British Isles. According to one of his students, Saint Bede died sitting on the floor of his room singing “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.” He was buried at the monastery where he lived his entire life. After his death he became known as “Bede the Venerable,” “Father of English History,” and the pope declared him as the only English-born doctor of the Church.

1. What did Saint Bede do to earn the titles “Venerable” and “Father of English History”? ______

2. If you had to choose one topic to study and learn about for your whole life, what would it be and why? ______

3. Venerable can mean “holy,” “wise,” or “respected.” What could you do to become known as venerable like Saint Bede? ______

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