V. Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [635 A.D.]
CHAP. V. Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [635 A.D.]
FROM this island, then, and the fraternity of these monks, Aidan was sent to
instruct the English nation in Christ, having received the dignity of a bishop.
At that time Segeni,abbot and priest, presided over that monastery. Among other
lessons in holy living, Aidan left the clergy a most salutary example of
abstinence and continence; it was the highest commendation of his doctrine with
all men, that he taught nothing that he did not practice in his life among his
brethren; for he neither sought nor loved anything of this world, but delighted
in distributing immediately among the poor whom he met whatsoever was given him
by the kings or rich men of the world. He was wont to traverse both town and
country on foot, never on horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity;
to the end that, as he went, he might turn aside to any whomsoever he saw,
whether rich or poor, and call upon them, if infidels, to receive the mystery of
the faith, or, if they were believers, strengthen them in the faith, and stir
them up by words and actions to giving of alms and the performance of good
works.
His course of life was so different from the slothfulness of our times, that all
those who bore him company, whether they were tonsured or laymen, had to study
either reading the Scriptures, or learning psalms. This was the daily employment
of himself and all that were with him, wheresoever they went; and if it
happened, which was but seldom, that he was invited to the king’s table, he went
with one or two clerks, and having taken a little food, made haste to be gone,
either to read with his brethren or to pray. At that time, many religious men
and women, led by his example, adopted the custom of prolonging their fast on
Wednesdays and Fridays, till the ninth hour, throughout the year, except during
the fifty days after Easter. Never, through fear or respect of persons, did he
keep silence with regard to the sins of the rich; but was wont to correct them
with a severe rebuke. He never gave money to the powerful men of the world, but
only food, if he happened to entertain them; and, on the contrary, whatsoever
gifts of money he received from the rich, he either distributed, as has been
said, for the use of the poor, or bestowed in ransoming such as had been
wrongfully sold for slaves. Moreover, he afterwards made many of those he had
ransomed his disciples, and after having taught and instructed them, advanced
them to priest’s orders.
It is said, that when King Oswald had asked a bishop of the Scots to administer
the Word of faith to him and his nation, there was first sent to him another man
of more harsh disposition,who, after preaching for some time to the English and
meeting with no success, not being gladly heard by the people, returned home,
and in an assembly of the elders reported, that he had not been able to do any
good by his teaching to the nation to whom he had been sent, because they were
intractable men, and of a stubborn and barbarous disposition. They then, it is
said, held a council and seriously debated what was to be done, being desirous
that the nation should obtain the, salvation it demanded, but grieving that they
had not received the preacher sent to them. Then said Aidan, who was also
present in the council, to the priest in question, "Methinks, brother, that you
were more severe to your unlearned hearers than you ought to have been, and did
not at first, conformably to the Apostolic rule, give them the milk of more easy
doctrine, till, being by degrees nourished with the Word of God, they should be
capable of receiving that which is more perfect and of performing the higher
precepts of God." Having heard these words, all present turned their attention
to him and began diligently to weigh what he had said, and they decided that he
was worthy to be made a bishop, and that he was the man who ought to be sent to
instruct the unbelieving and unlearned; since he was found to be endued
preeminently with the grace of discretion, which is the mother of the virtues.
So they ordained him and sent him forth to preach; and, as time went on, his
other virtues became apparent, as well as that temperate discretion which had
marked him at first.
