St. Cuthbert, Bishop and confessor
by VP
Posted on Wednesday September 04, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
The Journey by Fenwick Lawson, showing the coffin of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne being carried by 6 monks, eventually to Durham.
"St. Cuthbert, before his death, charged his disciples, that rather than fall under the yoke of schismatics or infidels, they should, when threatened with such a calamity, take with them his mortal remains, and choose some other dwelling. In the year 875, to escape from the Danish pirates, the monks quitted Lindisfarne, and carrying with them that sacred treasure, wandered to and fro for seven years. In 882, they rested with it a Concester, a small town near the Roman wall, now called Chester-le Street. In 995, the fresh inroads of the Danes obliged the bishop to retire with the saint's body to Ripon, and four months after to Durham. The body of the saint remained without the least taint of corruption; and many miracles were wrought at his shrine. This day was appointed to be kept as a yearly memorial of the translation of the body of St. Cuthbert to Durham.
Pray for your country, that God would deliver it from all corruptions. Give no countenance to any of them, by your bad example; but endeavor to be a light to all that sit in darkness. Let the primitive zeal of the saints for God's honor inspire you with some degree of this generous spirit, so as not to permit you in silence to see and hear God and His holy Law brought into contempt. This is what you are obliged to pray for, since you cannot prove yourself faithful to him, whom you serve, if you can be a silent witness of his cause being so often betrayed.
Remember too that no state is secure from the devil's snares. His attempts against Christ Himself in the desert are an instruction that no retirement can depend upon an exemption; but that there is to be expected the greater violence, where there are endeavors to approach the nearest to perfection. If you experience his malice however, be not discouraged. Remember only to go on with fear, without any confidence of yours own strength, but in an entire distrust of yourself. Thus you will certainly defeat the worst designs of the enemy."
The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church By Rev. Fr. John GOTHER
