Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Bede the Venerable

The Last Chapter, by James Doyle Penrose, 1902 © Cambridge University Library

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 25 May 2023
John 17:20-26

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

'Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me.

May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.

I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.'

Reflection on the painting

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Bede, the patron saint of the seminary where I am studying at here in Rome. We will have some celebrations here tonight. For me it will be my last celebration here as a seminarian, as in mid-June my four years of formation will come to a close and I will travel back to London. It has been a very happy time here and, since the college is dedicated to Saint Bede, over the years I have learnt a bit more about who he was. Various paintings depict him well, but the one we are looking at today sums him up rather poignantly.

Our painting was first seen at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1902 in London. It depicts Bede translating the Gospel of John on his deathbed. A young scribe is taking notes. Saint Bede was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, England. His most famous work Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) gained him the title of 'The Father of English History.' In 1899 he was made a 'Doctor of the Church' by Leo XIII, a position of theological significance; he is the only native of Great Britain to achieve this designation. Ordained a priest in 702 AD, he was asked to translate the Gospel of Saint John from Greek. Even when facing death, which took place on the eve of Ascension in 735 AD, it is said by one of his scholars that he 'spent that day joyfully'.

A few hours before he died Saint Bede said: 'It is time that I return to the One who gave me being, creating me out of nothing. The moment of my liberty is approaching'. The scribe depicted in our painting knew Saint Bede would soon depart earthly life, and said, 'Dear master, there is yet one chapter unwritten; would you be disturbed if we asked you additional questions?" St Bede answered, "No; take your pen, and write quickly," which the scribe did. They worked together until his last breath. This is beautifully captured in our painting. Saint Bede looks intently, driven by a willingness to complete his work. The scribe is eager to write the last words, in haste, knowing time is of the essence.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-17-20-26-2023/