Saint Cuthbert the wonder worker

Today, 20 March (2010), is the feast day of St Cuthbert, the bishop of Lindisfarne who was known as the Wonder Worker of Britain.

In 651, while working as a shepherd boy in Northumbria (which at the time included south-east Scotland as far as the Firth of Forth), Cuthbert had a vision of the soul of St Aidan carried to heaven by angels. This inspired him, at the age of 17, to become a monk at the monastery of Old Melrose.

His contemplative life was interrupted by war between the Northumbrians and their southern neighbours, the Mercians, in which he fought as a soldier. But on his return to the monastery his fame for piety, diligence and obedience grew.

He became praepositus hospitum, or visitors’ host, and later prior of the new monastery at Ripon. He was appointed Prior of Lindisfarne to introduce the recently adopted Roman customs there.

Cuthbert’s generosity to the poor and reputation for healing and insight led many to consult him, earning him his “wonder worker” title. In 676 he retired to live so as to attain greater perfection through a contemplative life. Shortly afterwards he moved to Farne Island, south of Lindisfarne, where he gave himself to a life of great austerity.

Cuthbert was called from retirement and elected Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685. But by Christmas 686, predicting the approach of death, he resigned his see and returned to the cell on Farne Island, where he was seized by a fatal illness and died on 20 March 687. Cuthbert was buried at Lindisfarne monastery, but his remains were later transferred to Durham Cathedral.

When his casket was opened in 698, the body was found “incorrupt”, or perfectly preserved. Catholic saints and beati whose bodies are found incorrupt are believed to be under some form of divine protection. The head of St Oswald is interred with the body of St Cuthbert, having been put there for safe keeping. This is why Cuthbert is often pictured holding a head, that of St Oswald.

Most of the priests for the northern counties of England are now trained under Cuthbert’s patronage at St Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw, near Durham. The episcopal gold ring, enclosing a sapphire, taken from his finger in 1537, is preserved here.