Today, August 31st marks the feast of St Aiden. We know next to nothing about his early life apart from the fact he was from Ireland and was associated with the monks of Iona. We know from the writings of St Bede that he was a Bishop. Some scholars have suggested he may have been Bishop of Clogher in Ireland. What we do know is that about the year 630AD he moved to Lindisfarne and founded a monastry there. His reputation soon spread and he attracted followers and disciples. St Bede suggests that any money he received he have to the poor and to free slaves. Some of the latter became monks in his community.
In 635 he became Bishop of Lindisfarne. The local king, Oswald, was a new convert to Christianity and persuasded Aiden to go around and bring the faith to what in now Northhumberland. Again St Bede tells us that he was offered a horse, as befitted his dignity as a bishop. This he refused and went around on foot, winning many to the faith by his gentle preaching and manner. He died in 650 at Bamborough.
St Aiden pray for us.
Fr Paul Harrison' Blog. 