Kindness of St Cuthbert

This Lent I am occasionally posting on the theme of kindness. Today is St Cuthbert's Day and I found myself thinking about the kindness of Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne. He died on this day in 687 A.D.

Here is his statue near to Holy Island, Northumberland, England. Cuthbert is one of the most popular English/Scottish saints.

Cuthbert was born around 640 in the Scottish lowlands (then part of the Northumbrian Kingdom). As a child he had a vision and decided to dedicate his life to God. He became a monk at Melrose Abbey. From there he began missionary work, which he continued from Lindisfarne where he became abbot. He became a bishop in 685 and continued travelling and preaching, walking all over the rough hills of his diocese, spending time as a hermit on Farne Island in between. On 20 March 687 he died and his body was eventually laid to rest in Durham.

There are many stories about him. Here’s one that illustrates his kindly nature and his care to teach others to share what you have. It is written by Bede:

Cuthbert had gone out on one of his long journeys to preach, taking with him a boy for company. The day was long and the road steep, and they were tired and hungry. The boy grew worried. 'Learn to have constant faith and hope in the Lord' said Cuthbert. 'Whoever serves God shall never die of hunger.' They saw an eagle in the sky and Cuthbert said: 'God can send us food by that eagle.' Soon, by the river bank, they saw it settling on a rock. 'There is the servant I was telling you about. Run and see what God has sent and bring it quickly.' The boy returned with a big fish that the bird had caught. 'What?' said Cuthbert: 'Didn't you give the servant his own share? Cut it in two, and give half to the bird.' After a good meal of cooked fish with villagers nearby, Cuthbert praised God for his provision and said: 'Happy the one whose hope is in the Lord'.

For Cuthbert, to be human was to live in dependence on God, aware of his constant presence. You could call this simplicity, being pure in heart and poor in spirit. Bede describes his character like this:

“like a good teacher he taught others to do only what he first practised himself. Above all else he was afire with heavenly love, unassumingly patient, devoted to unceasing prayer, and kindly to all who came to him for comfort…”

In his youth Cuthbert had cared for sheep, either as a shepherd boy, or more likely as a military guard for the flock. For Cuthbert, the image that inspired his ministry was the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. 

Some years ago I visited St Cuthbert’s shrine in Durham Cathedral. The medieval riches of the shrine were removed under Henry VIII. Now there’s a simple stone slab with one Latin word ‘Cuthbertus’. Among the symbols of power of that huge cathedral, that simplicity tells us 'Whoever would be great among you, let them be your servant'. I had not expected to be moved by it, but I was. I had an overwhelmingly powerful sense of God's presence and a feeling of joy that made me cry. Perhaps that had something to do with the fact that Christians have approached that place prayerfully for more than a thousand years and now silence is encouraged in that part of the cathedral. Or that there are those who pray daily for visiting pilgrims. Thanks to Cuthbert, it felt as if God had given me a great kindness that day, unexpected joy.

Image Credit: Philip Halling on Geograph, CC Licence