2ND MARCH 2003
ST.CHAD
BISHOP CONFESSOR (---c.672)
LIFE:
Chad was born in Northumbria, probably 620s.While still a boy he
became a student of ST.Adian at the celtic monastery on Lindisfarne and
later went as a monk to Ireland, where he was priested , for further
study.
His brother Chedd , when he was made bishop of London, requested Chad
to return to England to take the charge of abbey at Lastingham.Not long
after Chad became abbot , saint Wilfrid was chosen bishop of York.
Wilfrid went to Gaul for consecration, and stayed so long that King Oswin
declared the see vacant and procured the election of Chad as bishop of
York.Chad felt unworthy, but threw himself into new vocation, travelling
his diocese on foot , evangelising where he could and he devote himself
to the ecclesiastical truth , purity of doctrine and to give attention to
the practice of virtue.
When st .Theodore, a new arch bishop of canterbury arrived in Englan,
he charged Chad with being improperly ordained bishop.The saint humbly
replied " if u consider i have not been properly consecrated ,i willingly
resign this office,for i have never thought myself worthy of it,but though
unworthy, in obedience submitted to undertake it" St.Theodore astonoshed at
this humility and holiness,he completed Chad`s consecration according to Roma
rites. and appointed him bishop of Mercians in Lichfield in 669.
Though he ruled over the Mercians only two & a half years, his virtues
left a deep impress on the people.at his death he had 31 churches
dedicated to his name.
He founded monasteries , evangelised, travelled and preached, reformed
monsatic life in his see, and built a cathedral .Miraculous cures reported
at the wells he caused to be dug for travellers.
Legand says that on one occasion two of the king`s sons were hunting,
were led by their qarry to the oratory of Saint Chad were they found
him praying. They were so impressed by the site of the frail man upon his
knees., his face glowing with rapture, that they knelt asked for blessing
and converted.The pagan king Wulfthere was so angry and hunted down Saint
Chad.But as he approached the bishop`s cell, a great light shone through
its single window, and the king was almost blinded by its brightness, he
abundoned the plan of revenge.
St.Chad died on 2nd March 672, as he foretold 7 days before.
REFLECTION:
During storms, Chad would go to chapel and pray
continually.He explained, **God thunders forth from heaven to rouse people
to fear the Lord, to call them to remember future judgement.....when God
will come in the clouds in great power & majesty to judge the living &
the dead.And so we ought to respond to God`s heavenly warning with due
fear & love so that as often as God disturbs the sky , yet spares us
still, we should implore His mercy, examining the inner most recesses of
our hearts and purging out the dregs of our sins, and behave with such
caution that we may never deserve to be struck down..**
we adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,Because of Thy Holy Cross
Thou ha s redeemed the world....!!!!!
S.THOMAS
NOTTINGHAM
ENGLAND
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