Saint Cuthbert
Saint Cuthbert (born c. 634 AD in Northumbria, England; died March 20, 687 AD on Inner Farne, Northumberland, England) was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop, and hermit who became the most beloved saint of northern England. He served as Bishop of Lindisfarne and spent his final years as a hermit on the tiny island of Inner Farne. His body was found incorrupt eleven years after his death, confirming his sanctity. His remains are in Durham Cathedral, one of the greatest Norman buildings in Europe. He is called "the Light of Britain." His feast day is March 20.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Cuthbert
| Saint Cuthbert | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 20 |
| Profession | Monk; prior of Lindisfarne; Bishop of Lindisfarne (685–687); hermit; missionary |
| Rel. Affiliation | Celtic-Roman tradition; Northumbrian Church |
| Patronage | Northern England; Durham; Northumbria; herders; shepherds; sailors; Northumbrian farmers; the Farne Islands; those who are afflicted; Cuddy's ducks (the eider ducks he protected on the Farne Islands) |
| Attributes | Pectoral cross (the Cuthbert Gospel); gospel book; otter (the animal companions); bishop's vestments; head of Saint Oswald (which he carried with him) |
| Birthplace | Northumbria, England (possibly near Melrose) |
| Death Place | Inner Farne, Northumberland, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died as a hermit on Inner Farne |
| Primary Shrine | Durham Cathedral, Durham, England — his relics in the Feretory (the shrine behind the high altar); the greatest pilgrimage site of northern England |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | March 20 |
Biography
Cuthbert was born around 634 in Northumbria. He is said to have been a shepherd boy who received a vision of the soul of Saint Aidan being carried to heaven by angels — and that night Aidan died. Cuthbert took this as a divine call and presented himself at the monastery of Melrose on the River Tweed.
He was formed at Melrose under the prior Boisil, who taught him the Gospel of John. When Boisil was dying of plague, he and Cuthbert worked through the Gospel of John together, one chapter per day, before Boisil's death. Cuthbert later became prior of Melrose, then (664) prior of Lindisfarne — sent there by Abbot Eata to introduce the Roman rites agreed at the Synod of Whitby.
At Lindisfarne he was outstanding as a teacher, preacher, and pastor. He traveled throughout the Northumbrian countryside visiting remote villages and farms that no other priest could reach. Bede, who knew people who had known Cuthbert personally, describes his extraordinary pastoral love.
From 676 onward Cuthbert lived as a hermit on the tiny island of Inner Farne, off the Northumberland coast. He built a small cell and oratory and spent years in prayer and penance. Many came to visit him for spiritual counsel. The eider ducks (still called "Cuddy's ducks" — Cuddy being a diminutive of Cuthbert) nested around his cell, and he forbade anyone from disturbing them — one of the earliest documented acts of wildlife protection in Britain.
In 684, King Ecgfrith of Northumbria and the Northumbrian bishops persuaded Cuthbert to become Bishop of Lindisfarne. He accepted with great reluctance, was consecrated in 685, and served as bishop for two years with immense pastoral care.
Feeling his death approaching, he returned to Inner Farne and died there on March 20, 687, in the act of prayer. His body was taken to Lindisfarne and buried in the church. Eleven years later (698), his tomb was opened and his body found incorrupt — a discovery that confirmed his sanctity and was the origin of his great cult. Bishop Eadfrith composed the Lindisfarne Gospels in his honor in the years following the translation.
During the Viking invasions, the monks of Lindisfarne carried his relics in a great wandering journey (the Wandering of Saint Cuthbert) lasting over a century, until they finally settled at Durham. The present Durham Cathedral (begun 1093) was built to enshrine his relics and remains one of the supreme achievements of Norman architecture.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Northumbria, England (possibly near Melrose)
Death location: Inner Farne, Northumberland, England
Notable location: Where his relics have rested since 995 AD; the great Norman cathedral built over his shrine; one of the most magnificent medieval cathedrals in the world; a UNESCO World Heritage site (Durham Cathedral, Durham, County Durham, England)
Notable location: The island monastery where he was monk and later prior; the cradle of his saintly formation; site of the Lindisfarne Gospels (produced in his honor shortly after his death) (Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland, England)
Notable location: The tiny island where he lived as a hermit for nine years before becoming bishop; where he died (Inner Farne, Northumberland, England)
Notable location: Where he received his monastic formation under Prior Boisil (who prophesied his sanctity) — the first Melrose, not the current ruins (Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders, Scotland)
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Cuthbert have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint of the Day: March 20th - St Cuthbert | 5–15 minutes | Butler's Lives of the Saints |
| Story of Saint Cuthbert | Saints and Angels TV | EP 89 | #SaintsandAngels #CatholicSaints #Saints | 5–15 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| The Life and Miracles of Saint Cuthbert | Story of Saint | #saints | 5–15 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Durham Cathedral, Durham — his shrine in the feretory; the Cuthbert Gospel (St. Cuthbert Gospel), the oldest intact European book, was found in his coffin.
- Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland — the ruins of the Norman Priory (11th century) mark the site of his monastery; pilgrimage on foot across the tidal causeway.
- Inner Farne, Northumberland — the site of his hermitage; now a bird sanctuary managed by the National Trust.
Feast day
March 20
Veneration
Saint Cuthbert is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church (and in the Church of England) with a feast day on March 20 (Optional Memorial). He is the patron of northern England and the principal saint of Durham.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.