Saint of the Day: St. Chad, Abbot, Bishop, and Confessor

Chad was born c. 620 at Northrumbia, England, the youngest of four borthers, who all became priests. He was educated at Lindisfarne under Saint Adian and at the Monastery of Rathmelsige (Melfont), Ireland. He assisted his brother Saint Cedd in establishing the Monastery of Lastinghalil, Yorkshire and succeeded him as Abbot. For a short time Bishop of York, he was appointed Bishop of Mercia and established the seat of his diocese at Lichfield.

As Bishop, Chad dedicated himself to the practice of humility, self- denial and study. He travelled everywhere on foot, in the manner of the apostles, preaching the Gospel in the towns and the open country, in cottages, villages and castles. Chad not only preached, evangelized and reformed the monastic life, but also built a cathedral on the site of the martyrdom of 1,000 Christians by the pagan Mercians. He also had wells dug so travelers could stop for a drink of water. It is said that miracles occurred at many of these sites.

Chad contracted the plague and on March 2, 672, went to his Heavenly reward.

Prayer

Almighty God, whose servant Chad, for the peace of the Church, relinquished cheerfully the honors that had been thrust upon him, only to be rewarded with equal responsibility: Keep us, we pray, from thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, and ready at all times to step aside for others, (in honor preferring one another,) that the cause of Christ may be advanced; in the name of him who washed his disciples' feet, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

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