My Thoughts 25/05/2022

Today is the feast of St Bede. He died this day in 735. From my early days, the parish of St Bede, Clapham Park was an important part of my and my family’s life. I made my first confession here and my first communion. I was also confirmed here. 47 years ago next month, I was ordained a priest. It was here that I celebrated the Requiem Mass for both Mum and Dad. The parish and the school had a tremendous influence on my faith. In all that time I knew little all nothing about St Bede himself. He was the figure on the left before you entered the church. As far as I recall he was in a black habit, holding a book.

Today in the Office of Readings there is a moving account of his death written by Cuthbert. Bede was working on his translation of St. John until the moment of his death. Cuthbert quotes Bede: “It is time – if it is my Maker’s will – to return to him who made me, who shaped me out of nothing and gave me existence. I have lived a long time, and the righteous judge has provided well for me all my life: now the time of my departure is at hand, for I long to dissolve and be with Christ; indeed, my soul longs to see Christ its king in all his beauty.”

The Irish painter James Doyle Penrose exhibited a painting at the Royal Academy in 1902 entitled “The Venerable Bede Translates John”, sometimes known as “The last chapter”.

Today I pray that St Bede will help me to have a good death.