Vitrail représentant saint Chad, monastère de la Sainte-Croix de West Park (État de New York).
Saint Chad ou Ceadda
de Liechfield, évêque
Frère de saint Cédric,
abbé de Lastingham, à York en Angleterre, il y pratiqua la stricte observance
de la règle de saint Columba. Evêque d'York, il sut s'effacer humblement
lorsque cette charge lui fut retirée par saint Théodore, archevêque de Cantorbéry,
et il fixa son siège épiscopal à Lichflield où il mourut peu après, en
672. Ses reliques sont conservées dans la cathédrale de Birmingham.
Mercia in time of Chad
Saint Chad de Liechfield
Évêque d'York (+ 672)
ou Ceadda.
Nous le fêtons avec la
Communion anglicane.
Frère de saint Cédric, abbé de Lastingham, à York en
Angleterre, il y pratiqua la stricte observance de la règle de saint Colomba. Evêque
d'York, il sut s'effacer humblement lorsque cette charge lui fut retirée
par saint Théodore,
archevêque de Cantorbery, et il fixa son siège épiscopal à Lichflield où il
mourut peu après. Ses reliques sont conservées dans la cathédrale de
Birmingham.
À Lichfield en
Angleterre, l’an 677, saint Céadde ou Chad, évêque. Dans des circonstances
difficiles, il exerça son ministère épiscopal dans la province de Mercie et de
Lindsey, et prit soin d’administrer son peuple selon les exemples des anciens
Pères, en se montrant humble, pieux, zélé et apostolique.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/731/Saint-Chad-de-Liechfield.html
St
Chad depicted holding Lichfield Cathedral 4'
figure carved in Honduras mahogany by Denis Parsons.
Location unknown.
Also
known as
Chad of Lichfield
Ceadda of….
Apostle of Mercia
Profile
Brother of Saint Cedd and Saint Cynibild. Missionary monk to Ireland with Saint Egbert. Ordained in 653. Studied Latin
and astronomy. Abbot at
Lastingham monastery,
Yorkshire, England; abbot to Saint Owen.
Not long after Chad
became abbot, Saint Wilfrid of
York was chosen Bishop of Lindisfarne,
a see which
was soon moved to York. Wilfrid went to Gaul for
consecration, and stayed so long that King Oswiu
declared the see vacant
and procured the election of Chad as bishop of York.
Chad felt unworthy, but threw himself into the new vocation, travelling his diocese on
foot, evangelizing where
he could. When Wilfrid returned in 666, Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury,
decided that Chad’s episcopal consecration
was invalid, and that Chad must give up the diocese to Wilfrid.
Chad replied that he had never thought himself worthy of the position, that he
took it through obedience, and he would surrender it through obedience.
Theodore, astonished at this humility, consecrated Chad himself, and appointed
him bishop of
the Mercians in Lichfield in 669.
He founded monasteries,
including those at Lindsey and Barrow-upon-Humber, evangelized, travelled and preached,
reformed monastic life
in his diocese,
and built a cathedral on
land that had been the site of the martyrdom of
1,000 Christians by
the pagan Mercians. Miraculous cures reported
at the wells he caused to be dug for the relief of travellers.
Legend says that on one
occasion two of the king‘s sons
were hunting,
were led by their quarry to the oratory of Saint Chad where
they found him praying.
They were so impressed by the sight of the frail old man upon his knees, his
face glowing with rapture, that they knelt, asked his blessing, and converted.
The pagan King Wulfhere
was so angry that he slew his
sons, and hunted down Saint Chad for
some of the same. 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 abandoned his plan for revenge.
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
the future judgment…when God will come in the
clouds in great power and majesty to judge the living and the dead. And so we
ought to respond to God‘s
heavenly warning with due fear and love so that as often as God disturbs the
sky, yet spares us still, we should implore God‘s mercy, examining
the innermost 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.”
NOTE:
I still get email from visitors asking if Chad is the patron of elections,
disputes, disputed elections, losers, or some other element related to 2000‘s
disputed American presidential election. I have absolutely no evidence that
there are patrons of
elections, and certainly none that Chad has anything to do with it. It was not
until 31
October 2000 that politicians and
elected officials received a patron, and
that’s Saint Thomas More.
Times were rough in 7th century England,
but I have no record of Chad hanging, dangling, dimpled or pregnant. As you see
above, he was involved in a disputed election, but no patronage
tradition resulted. Also note that when a dispute arose, Chad stepped aside for
the greater good. Wish our current politicians had
such grace; but no one ever accused them of being saints. – Terry
Born
c.620 in Northumbria, England
2 March 672 at Lichfield, England of
natural causes after a brief illness, probably the plague
his initial tomb was in
the form of a small wooden house
some relics preserved
in the cathedral of Saint Chad
in Birmingham, England
in England
Lichfield,
city of
bishop holding Lichfield Cathedral and
a branch, usually a vine
bishop holding
the cathedral in
the midst of a battlefield with the dead surrounding him
man with a hart leading hunters to
him by a pool
converting Saint Wulfhald
and Saint Rufinus
who converted on
finding him in chapel while
they were hunting
Additional
Information
An
Old English Martyrology, by George Herzfeld
Book of
Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
Roman
Martyrology, 1914 edition
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Prayers of the Saints,
edited by Cecil Headlam
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
Christian
Biographies, by James Keifer
Early British Kingdoms, by David Nash Ford
Ecclesiastical
History of the English Nation, Book IV by the Venerable Bede
Parish of Oystermouth, Swansea, Wales
R W Morrell,
an article about Saint Chad’s Well
images
video
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
Readings
King Oswy
sent to Kent a holy man of modest character, well versed in the Scriptures, and
practicing with diligence what he had learned from them, to be ordained bishop of
the church of York…. But when they reached Kent, they found that Archbishop Deusdedit
had departed this life and that as yet no other had been appointed in his
place.
Thereupon they turned
aside to the province of the West Saxons, where Wine was bishop,
and by him the above mentioned Chad was consecrated bishop, two bishops of the
British nation, who kept Easter in
contravention of the canonical custom from the 14th to the 20th of the moon,
being associated with him, for at that time there was no other bishop in
all Britain canonically ordained besides Wine. Saint Theodore of
Canterbury had not yet arrived.
As soon as Chad had been
consecrated bishop, he
began most strenuously to devote himself to ecclesiastical truth and purity of
doctrine and to give attention to the practice of humility, self- denial and
study: to travel about, not on horseback,
but on foot, after the manner of the apostles, preaching the Gospel in the
towns and the open country, in cottages, villages and castles, for he was one of
Aidan’s disciples and tried to instruct his hearers by acting and behaving
after the example of his master and of his brother Cedd. – Venerable Bede
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. – prayer on
the feast of Saint Chad
The beloved Guest who
would visit our brethren has deigned to come to me also this day and to summon
me from the world. Turn your steps to the church and bid the brethren to
commend in their prayers my going hence to God, and to remember to prepare for
their own departure, the hour of which is yet uncertain, by watching and by
praying and by good works. – having been warned of approaching death,
Saint Chad speaks to his brothers
MLA
Citation
“Saint Chad of
Mercia“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 May 2024. Web. 24 October 2024.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-chad/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-chad/
Statue of St Chad commissioned by Lichfield Cathedral and created by sculptor Peter Walker. Unveiled and dedicated on Saturday 26 June 2021.
Article
CHAD (CEADDA) (Saint)
Bishop (March 2) (7th century) An Anglo-Saxon, brother of Saint Cedd, Bishop of
London. He was educated at Lindisfarne and in Ireland. He governed for some
years the monastery of Lestingay in Yorkshire, acquiring thereby a great reputation
for ability and for holiness of life. Through a mistake occasioned by the
prolonged absence of Saint Wilfrid in France, Saint Chad was consecrated
Archbishop of York in his place; but on the Saint’s return passed to the
Bishopric of the Mercians, of which he fixed the See at Lichfield. He died two
years later in the great pestilence of A.D. 673, leaving an imperishable memory
for zeal and devotedness. A portion of his Sacred Belies are venerated in
Birmingham Cathedral, which is dedicated to him.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Chad”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 2 October 2012.
Web. 24 October 2024. <http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-chad/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-chad/
Saint Chad, Holy Trinity, Northwood, Stained glass window
St. Chad of Mercia
Feastday: March 2
Patron: of Mercia; Lichfield; of astronomers
Birth: 634
Death: 672
Irish archbishop and
brother of St. Cedd, also called Ceadda. He was trained by St. Aidan in
Lindisfarne and in England. He also spent time with
St. Egbert in
Ireland. Made the archbishop of
York by King Oswy, Chad was disciplined by Theodore, the newly arrived archbishop of
Canterbury, in 669. Chad accepted Theodore's charges of impropriety with
such humility and grace that
Theodore regularized his consecration and
appointed him the bishop of
Mercia. He established a see at Lichfield. His relics are
enshrined in Birmingham. In liturgical art he is depicted as a bishop,
holding a church.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2656
Saint
Chad, stained glass window, Chadwell Heath, London Borough of Barking and
Dagenham
St Chad
Celebrated on March
2nd
Bishop. Chad was the
first bishop of Mercia and Lindsay at Lichfield. Born in Northumbria in the 7th
century, he was a pupil of St Aidan at Lindisfarne, who sent him to Ireland for
part of his education. He later became abbot of Lastingham in Yorkshire, but
was then called to be bishop of York. In 669, St Theodore of Canterbury judged
him to have been irregularly consecrated. Chad accepted the decision and humbly
went back to his monastery. Theodore was so impressed by his character he made
him bishop of Mercia with his see at Lichfield.
St Chad lived only three years longer, but during that time, according to Bede:
"he administered his diocese in great holiness of life, following the
example of the ancient fathers."
St Chad always travelled on foot, until Archbishop Theodore insisted that he
rode a horse. He founded a monastery in Lincolnshire, probably at Barrow upon
Humber and another near Lichfield Cathedral. He died on this day in 672 and was
very soon venerated as a saint. There were many reports of healings at his tomb
which became a popular centre for pilgrimage.
Several shrines were built to him at the cathedral church of St Peter - each
more elaborate until the last one, built by the bishop of Lichfield Robert
Stretton in the late 1300s, which was decorated in gold and precious jewels.
Rowland Lee, the last Catholic bishop of Lichfield from 1534 - 53, begged Henry
VIII to spare the shrine but it was destroyed by reformers. Some bones were
later discovered, apparently preserved by recusants. These are now in St Chad's
Catholic Cathedral in Birmingham. They were recently carbon-tested and date to
the seventh century.
An illuminated Gospel of St Chad, that probably belonged to the shrine, is now
in Lichfield Cathedral library. Thirty-nine ancient churches and several wells
mainly in the Midlands were dedicated to St Chad. There are also several modern
dedications.
SOURCE : https://www.indcatholicnews.com/saint/067
Saint
Chad et Saint Alban, stained glass window, Chadwell Heath, London Borough of
Barking and Dagenham
An
Old English Martyrology – March 2 – Saint Chad
Article
On the second day of the
month is the departure of Saint Chad; his miracles and life were recorded by
the learned Bede in his English History. The archbishop took this Chad from the
northern frontier in the monastery of Lastingham and sent him as a bishop to
the Mercians and the Middle Angles and the people of Lindisfarne; and God’s
angels openly conducted him to heaven with delightful singing; and one of the
servants of God whose name was Owine heard this, and the hermit Saint Egbert
told the abbot Hygebald that the soul of the bishop Cedd had come from heaven
with a crowd of angels and brought his brother’s soul to heaven. The body of
this bishop rests in the minster at Lichfield.
MLA
Citation
George Herzfeld. “March 2
– Saint Chad”. An Old English Martyrology, 1900. CatholicSaints.Info.
16 May 2024. Web. 24 October 2024.
<https://catholicsaints.info/an-old-english-martyrology-march-2-saint-chad/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/an-old-english-martyrology-march-2-saint-chad/
Caption
from page 31 of Modern English Silverwork
(1909), by C. R. Ashbee: "Altar cross, designed and made for Miss Sophia
Lonsdale as a gift to Lichfield Cathedral. The base of this piece was made to
harmonise with the bases of the Cathedral candlesticks. The cross itself is
designed with an elaborate nimbus, richly chased, partly enamelled and set with
moonstones and pearl blisters. Ten chased angels, with enamelled wings,
surround the nimbus, and a small cast figure of St. Chad occupies a niche in
the head. A large azurite is set in the vesica which occupies the centre, from
which gilded rays diverge to the nimbus. The St. Chad was modelled by Alec
Miller. The cross stands 47 inches high and is here drawn to two-thirds of its
full size."
St. Ceada, or Chad, Bishop and Confessor
HE was brother to St.
Cedd, bishop of London, and the two holy priests Celin and Cymbel, and had his
education in the monastery of Lindisfarne, under St. Aidan. For his greater
improvement in sacred letters and divine contemplation he passed into Ireland,
and spent a considerable time in the company of Saint Egbert, till he was
called back by his brother St. Cedd to assist him in settling the monastery of
Lestingay, which he had founded in the mountains of the Deiri, that is, the
Woulds of Yorkshire. St. Cedd being made bishop of London, or of the East
Saxons, left to him the entire government of this house. Oswi having yielded up
Bernicia, or the northern part of his kingdom, to his son Alcfrid, this prince
sent St. Wilfrid into France, that he might be consecrated to the bishopric of
the Northumbrian kingdom, or of York; but he staid so long abroad that Oswi
himself nominated St. Chad to that dignity, who was ordained by Wini, bishop of
Winchester, assisted by two British prelates, in 666. Bede assures us that he
zealously devoted himself to all the laborious functions of his charge,
visiting his diocess on foot, preaching the gospel, and seeking out the poorest
and most abandoned persons to instruct and comfort in the meanest cottages, and
in the fields. When St. Theodorus, archbishop of Canterbury, arrived in
England, in his general visitation of all the English churches, he adjudged the
see of York to St. Wilfrid. Saint Chad made him this answer: “If you judge that
I have not duly received the episcopal ordination, I willingly resign this
charge, having never thought myself worthy of it; but which, however unworthy,
I submitted to undertake in obedience.” The archbishop was charmed with his
candour and humility, would not admit his abdication, but supplied certain
rites which he judged defective in his ordination: and St. Chad, leaving the
see of York, retired to his monastery of Lestingay, but was not suffered to
bury himself long in that solitude. Jaruman, bishop of the Mercians, dying, St.
Chad was called upon to take upon him the charge of that most extensive
diocess. 1 He
was the fifth bishop of the Mercians, and first fixed that see at Litchfield,
so called from a great number of martyrs slain and buried there under
Maximianus Herculeus; the name signifying the field of carcasses. Hence this
city bears for its arms a landscape, covered with the bodies of martyrs. St.
Theodorus considering St. Chad’s old age, and the great extent of his diocess,
absolutely forbade him to make his visitations on foot, as he used to do at
York. When the laborious duties of his charge allowed him to retire, he enjoyed
God in solitude with seven or eight monks, whom he had settled in a place near
his cathedral. Here he gained new strength and fresh graces for the discharge
of his functions: he was so strongly affected with the fear of the divine
judgments, that as often as it thundered he went to the church and prayed
prostrate all the time the storm continued, in remembrance of the dreadful day
on which Christ will come to judge the world. By the bounty of king Wulfere, he
founded a monastery at a place called Barrow, in the province of Lindsay, (in
the northern part of Lincolnshire,) where the footsteps of the regular life
begun by him remained to the time of Bede. Carte conjectures that the foundation
of the great monastery of Bardney, in the same province, was begun by him. St.
Chad governed his diocess of Litchfield two years and a half, and died in the
great pestilence on the 2nd of March, in 673. Bede gives the following relation
of his passage: “Among the eight monks whom he kept with him at Litchfield, was
one Owini, who came with queen Ethelred, commonly called St. Audry, from the
province of the East Angles, and was her major-domo, and the first officer of
her court, till quitting the world, clad in a mean garment, and carrying an axe
and a hatchet in his hand, he went to the monastery of Lestingay, signifying
that he came to work, and not to be idle; which he made good by his behaviour
in the monastic state. This monk declared, that he one day heard a joyful
melody of some persons sweetly singing, which descended from heaven into the
bishop’s oratory, filled the same for about half an hour, then mounted again to
heaven. After this, the bishop opening his window, and seeing him at his work,
bade him call the other seven brethren. When the eight monks were entered his
oratory, he exhorted them to preserve peace, and religiously observe the rules
of regular discipline; adding, that the amiable guest who was wont to visit
their brethren, had vouchsafed to come to him that day, and to call him out of
this world. Wherefore he earnestly recommended his passage to their prayers,
and pressed them to prepare for their own, the hour of which is uncertain, by
watching, prayer, and good works.”
The bishop fell presently
into a languishing distemper, which daily increased, till, on the seventh day,
having received the body and blood of our Lord, he departed to bliss, to which
he was invited by the happy soul of his brother St. Cedd, and a company of
angels with heavenly music. He was buried in the church of St. Mary, in
Litchfield; but his body was soon after removed to that of St. Peter, in both
places honoured by miraculous cures, as Bede mentions. His relics were
afterwards translated into the great church which was built in 1148, under the
invocation of the B. Virgin and St. Chad, which is now the cathedral, and they
remained there till the change of religion. See Bede, l. 3. c. 28. l. 4.
c. 2 and 3.
Note 1. The first
bishop of the Mercians was Diuma a Scot; the second Keollach, of the same
nation; the third Tramhere, who had been abbot of Gethling, in the kingdom of
the Northumbrians; the fourth Jaruman. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume III: March. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/3/022.html
First item late copy of The old Englisch Homely on the life of St. Chad. Hatton MS 116, formally Junius 24 (10,5 X 7,5 inch). 1200AD Language: Old English. (MS given by H. Wanley, 1705.)
De una copia tardía del viejo English Homely en la vida de St. Chad, c. 1200,
en el Bodleian Biblioteca, Oxford.
St. Ceadda
(Commonly known as ST.
CHAD.)
Abbot of
Lastingham, Bishop successively
of York and Lichfield, England; date of
birth uncertain, died 672.
He is often confounded
with his brother, St.
Cedd, also Abbot of
Lastingham and the Bishop of
the East Saxons. He had two other brothers, Cynibill and Caelin, who also
became priests.
Probably Northumbrian by birth, he was educated at Lindisfarne under St.
Aidan, but afterwards went to Ireland,
where he studied with St.
Ecgberht in the monastery of
Rathmelsige (Melfont).
There he returned to help his brother St.
Cedd to establish the monastery of
Laestingaeu, now Lastingham in Yorkshire. On his brother's death in 664, he
succeeded him as abbot.
Shortly afterwards St.
Wilfrid, who had been chosen to succeed Tudi, Bishop of Lindisfarne,
went to Gaul for consecration and
remained so long absent that King Oswiu determined to wait no longer, and
procured the election of
Chad as Bishop of York,
to which place the Bishopric of Lindisfarne had
been transferred. As Canterbury was
vacant, he was consecrated by
Wini of Worcester,
assisted by two British bishops.
As bishop he
visited his diocese on
foot, and laboured in an apostolic spirit until the arrival of St.
Theodore, the newly elected Archbishop of Canterbury who
was making a general
visitation. St.
Theodore decided that St. Chad must give up the diocese to St.
Wilfrid, who had now returned. When he further intimated that St. Chad's
episcopal consecration had
not been rightly performed, the Saint replied, "If you decide that I have
not rightly received the episcopal character, I willingly lay down the office;
for I have never thought myself worthy of it, but under obedience, I, though
unworthy, consented to undertake it". St.
Theodore, however, desired him not to relinquish the episcopate and himself
supplied what was lacking ("ipse ordinationem ejus denuo catholica ratione
consummavit" — Bede,
Hist. Eccl. IV, 2). Ceadda then returned to Lastingham, where he remained
till St.
Theodore called him in 669 to become Bishop of
the Mercians. He built a church and monastery at Lichfield,
where he dwelt with seven or eight monks,
devoting to prayer and
study time he could spare from his work as bishop.
He received warning of his death in a vision.
His shrine,
which was honoured by miracles,
was removed in the twelfth century to the cathedral at Lichfield,
dedicated to Our
Lady and the Saint himself. At the Reformation his relics were
rescued from profanation by Catholics,
and they now lie in the Catholic cathedral at Birmingham,
which is dedicated to him. His festival is
kept on the 2nd of March. All accounts of his life are based on that given
by Venerable
Bede, who had been instructed in Holy
Scripture by Trumberct, one of St. Chad's monks and
disciples.
Burton,
Edwin. "St. Ceadda." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol.
3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 2 Mar.
2016<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03470c.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Joseph P. Thomas.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D.,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2023 by Kevin Knight.
Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03470c.htm
Saint Chad of Lichfield B
(RM)
(also known as Ceadda)
Born in Northumbria,
England; died at Lichfield in 673.
The Venerable Bede writes
that:
King Oswy sent to Kent a
holy man of modest character, well versed in the Scriptures, and practicing
with diligence what he had learned from them, to be ordained bishop of the
church of York. . . . But when they reached Kent, they found that Archbishop Deusdedit
had departed this life and that as yet no other had been appointed in his
place.
Thereupon they turned
aside to the province of the West Saxons, where Wine was bishop, and by him the
above mentioned Chad was consecrated bishop, two bishops of the British nation,
who kept Easter in contravention of the canonical custom from the 14th to the
20th of the moon, being associated with him, for at that time there was no
other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained besides Wine. [St. Theodore of
Canterbury had no yet arrived.]
As soon as Chad had been
consecrated bishop, he began most strenuously to devote himself to
ecclesiastical truth and purity of doctrine and to give attention to the
practice of humility, self- denial and study: to travel about, not on
horseback, but on foot, after the manner of the apostles, preaching the Gospel
in the towns and the open country, in cottages, villages and castles, for he
was one of Aidan's disciples and tried to instruct his hearers by acting and
behaving after the example of his master and of his brother Cedd.
During the tenure of
Saint Aidan as abbot, when the abbey of Lindisfarne in northern Britain was a
hive of Christian activity and the center of a brave and eager company of
evangelists, among them was St. Chad, an Angle by birth, one of four brothers
all of whom became priests, including Saint Cedd and Saint Cynibild.
As a young monk Chad had
spent some years as a missionary monk in Ireland with Saint Egbert at
Rathmelsigi, but was recalled to England to replace his brother Cedd as abbot
of Lastingham Monastery, when Cedd was appointed bishop of London. Lastingham
was a small community under the Rule of St. Columba in a remote, beautiful
village on the very edge of the north York Moors near Whitby.
As described by Bede,
within a year of his abbatial appointment Chad was named bishop of York by King
Oswy. Meanwhile, King Oswy's son King Alcfrid had appointed Wilfrid, bishop of
the same see. But Wilfrid, considering the northern bishops who had refused to
accept the decrees of Whitby as schismatic, went to France to be ordained
(consecrated?). Delayed until 666 in his return, Wilfrid found that St. Chad
had been appointed. Rather than contest the election of Chad, Wilfrid returned
to his monastery at Ripon.
When Saint Theodore became
archbishop of Canterbury in 669, he removed Chad from the see of York on the
grounds that he was improperly consecrated by Wine, and restored St. Wilfrid.
Chad's humility in accepting this change was evidenced in his reply to
Theodore: "If you consider that I have not been properly consecrated, I
willingly resign this charge of which I never thought myself worthy. I
undertook it, though unworthy, under obedience."
With that, the astonished
Theodore supplied what he thought was wanting in Chad's consecration, and soon
after made him bishop of the Mercians with his see at Lichfield. This was
Chad's greatest achievement: The creation of the see of Lichfield, which
covered 17 counties and stretched from the Severn to the North Sea. At
Lichfield, or the Field of the Dead, where once a thousand Christians had been
martyred, Chad founded his cathedral. Here, too, he built himself a simple
oratory not far from the church, where he lived and prayed when not travelling
on foot throughout his wide diocese, and here also he gathered around him a
missionary band of eight of his brethren from Lastingham.
A typical story is of how
on one occasion when two of the king's sons were out hunting, they were led by
their quarry to the oratory of St. Chad, where they found him praying, and were
so impressed by the sight of the frail old man upon his knees, his face glowing
with rapture, that they knelt and asked his blessing, and were later baptized
and confirmed. All who encountered him were similarly impressed, and many made pilgrimage
to Lichfield and to his holy well outside the city, which still remains.
He had great qualities of
mind and spirit, but greatest of all was his sense of the presence of God and
the influence it had upon others, for it is said that all who met him were
aware of God's glory. It was this experience, no doubt, which underlies the
story that Wulfhere was so angry when his sons were converted that he slew them
and, breathing fury, sought out St. 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.
In his early days in
Northumbria, St. Chad had trudged on foot on his long missionary journeys until
Archbishop Theodore with his own hands lifted him on horseback, insisting that
he conserve his strength. This was typical of St. Chad, and he brought to his
work at Lichfield the same grace and simplicity.
In Lichfield Chad founded
monasteries including possibly Barrow (Barton) upon Humber, improved the
discipline of the cloisters, preached everywhere, and reformed the churches of
the diocese.
Many legends gathered
round his name, and the familiar one which relates to his death reflects at
least the inner beauty of his life. After two and one half years of steady, unremitting
labor, when Chad came to die, his oratory was filled with the sound of music.
First a laborer heard it, outside in the fields, and drew near in wonder, then
ran and told others. St. Chad's followers gathered outside, and when they asked
what it was, he told them that it meant that his hour had come and it was the
angels calling him home. Then he gave each of them a blessing, begged them to
keep together, to live in peace, and faithfully fulfill their calling. St.
Chad's body simply wore out.
Some of his relics are
preserved in the cathedral of Birmingham, which is named for him (Attwater,
Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Gill).
In art, St. Chad is a
bishop holding Lichfield Cathedral and a branch (usually a vine). He may also
be found (1) holding the cathedral in the midst of a battlefield with the dead
surrounding him, (2) with a hart leading hunters to him by a pool, or (3) at
the time of the conversion of the hunters (SS. Wulfhald and Ruffinus) (Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0302.shtml
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1592962.jpg)
Sculpture de saint. Chad, St. Chad's Church, Lichfield, Staffordshire, 1930
Biography of St.
Chad (623-672), Bishop of Lichfield
S T. C H A D
Born: c.AD 623 in Northumbria
Abbot of Lastingham
Bishop of York
Bishop of Lichfield
Died: 2nd March AD 672 at Lichfield, Staffordshire
Part 1: Training & Abbacy of Lastingham
St. Chad, or Ceadda,
was the youngest of the four brothers: Cedd,
Cynebil, Celin and Chad, all eminent priests. Despite attempts to claim him as
both a Scottish and an Irish saint, he was certainly an Angle, born of noble
parents in Northumbria around AD 623. Bede tells us that St. Chad, along with
his elder brothers, was a pupil of St. Aidan at his Lindisfarne school. The
bishop required the young men who studied with him to spend much time in
reading Holy Writ and in learning, by heart, large portions of the Psalter,
which they would require in their devotions. Upon the death of Aidan, in AD
651, the four young men were to Ireland to complete their training. The Emerald
Isle was then full of men of learning and piety, and Chad, there, made the
acquaintance of Egbert, afterwards Abbot of Iona.
Meanwhile, Chad's
brother, Cedd, had returned to England and evangelised the East Saxons. In AD
658, at the request of King Aethelwald of Deira, he also established a
monastery at Lastingham in
Yorkshire, standing just on the edge of the North York Moors. Though often
absent, he frequently returned thither from his London diocese and, at a time
of the AD 664 plague, he died there. Upon his death-bed, Cedd bequeathed the
care of the monastery to his brother, Chad, who was then still in Ireland.
On his return, St. Chad
ruled the Lastingham Abbey with great care and prudence, and received all who
sought his hospitality with kindness and humility. However, he arrived in
Northumbria during a period of religious change and political upheaval. Having,
at the Synod of Whitby, rejected the ways of the Irish Church in favour of
those of Rome, the Northern diocese quickly found itself short of a Bishop.
Eventually, the heavily pro-Roman and, therefore to some factions,
unpopular St.
Wilfred given the Northumbrian Bishopric which he transferred to York.
Arrogant to the last, he insisted on being consecrated by true followers of the
Roman rule, as only to be found in France and was absent some months.
Part 2: Episcopate of York
The following year (AD
665), while St.
Wilfred was still abroad, King Oswiu of Northumbria became impatient
for some religious guidance in his kingdom and decided to send Chad to Kent to
be ordained Bishop of the Northern Church. He was accompanied by the King's
Chaplain, Edhed, who was, some years afterwards, made Abbot of Ripon. However,
upon their arrival in Canterbury, the two priests found that Archbishop
Deusdedit had died of the Plague. His successor, Wigheard, was journeying to
Rome for his consecration and Bishop Ithamar of Rochester was too close to
death to be of any help. So they turned aside to Wessex where, at
Dorchester-on-Thames, they were greeted by Bishop Wine. He was the only
canonically ordained bishop available in England, yet the required ceremony
demanded three. Wine therefore called upon two Welsh and/or Cornish Bishops to
help him and St. Chad was duly consecrated Bishop of York in Dorchester
Cathedral.
Bishop Chad began, at
once, to apply himself to the practice of humility, continence and study. He
travelled about his new diocese, not on horseback, but after the manner of the
apostles, on foot, to preach the gospel in the towns and the open countryside,
according to the example of both St. Aidan and his late brother, Cedd. Wilfred
returned to England in AD 666 and, finding himself, deposed, quietly retired to
his Abbey at Ripon. He remained, however, an opponent of Chad who was
constantly criticised for the manner of his consecration. Three years
later, Theodore of
Tarsus, a new Archbishop arrived in Canterbury from the Continent. Being
naturally a staunch supporter of the Roman doctrine, he soon charged Chad with
holding an uncanonical office. The northern prelate humbly replied that if this
were true, he would willingly resign for he never thought himself worthy of the
position and had only consented out of a sense of duty. Theodore was so moved
that he completed Chad's ordination himself in the Roman manner. Though the
latter still preferred to resign in favour of Wilfred and he thus retired to
Lastingham. Though Chad was Bishop of York for so short a time, he left his
mark on the affections of the people, for we find that at least one chantry was
dedicated in his name at York Minster.
Part 3: Episcopate of Lichfield
In AD 669, Bishop Jaruman
of Mercia died and King Wulfhere asked Archbishop
Theodore to send his people a new Christian leader. The primate did
not wish to consecrate a fresh bishop, so he persuaded King Oswiu to release
Chad from the Abbacy of Lastingham to
be the new Mercian Bishop. Soon after his election, Chad set out for Repton in
Derbyshire, where Diuma, the first Bishop of Mercia, had established his see.
Theodore, knowing that it was Chad's custom to travel on foot, bade him ride,
whenever he had a long journey to perform. However, finding Chad unwilling to
comply, the archbishop was forced to lift him onto his horse, with his own
hands, and oblige him to ride.
Chad did not stay long at
Repton, but removed the centre of the Mercian See to Lichfield in
Staffordshire. Whether this was through a desire for a more central position or
was influenced by a wish to do honour to a spot enriched with the blood of
martyrs is unknown. For Licetfield was then thought to translate as "Field
of the Dead" where one thousand British Christians were said to have been
butchered. Possibly also, he wished to be closer to the popular Royal Palace at
Tamworth.
Chad's new diocese was
not much less in extent than that of Northumbria. It comprised seventeen
counties and stretched from the banks of the Severn to the shores of the North
Sea. For the dioceses of Worcester, Leicester, Lindsey and Hereford had still
to be detached. Though such an area may be thought far beyond the power of one
man to administer effectively, Chad apparently rose to the challenge. King
Wulfhere gave him the land of fifty families upon which to build a monastery,
at the place called Ad Barve (At the Wood) in Lindsey, conjectured to
be Barton-on-Humber, where the ancient Saxon church still stands. Though it was
almost certainly Barrow in the same region.
Chad built himself a
small oratory beside Stowe Pool at Lichfield. It adjoined a large well and a
small church (St. Chad's), not far from his new cathedral. He would emerse
himself naked in the deep well every morning and meditate in the icy waters
before setting out around his diocese to care for the needy. When time allowed,
Chad was also wont to pray and read with seven or eight other brethren in his
cell. If it happened that there blew a strong gust of wind, when he was reading
or doing anything else, he at once called upon the Lord for mercy. If it blew
stronger, he, prostrating himself, prayed more earnestly. But if it proved a
violent storm of wind or rain, or of thunder and lightning, he would pray and
repeat Psalms in the church till the weather became calm. He explained to his
followers that the Lord moves the air, raises the winds, darts lightning and
thunders from heaven to excite the inhabitants of the Earth to fear him, to
dispel their pride, vanquish their boldness and to put them in mind of their
future judgement.
It was to Bishop Chad's
little cell that Prince Wulfade of Mercia happened to chase a handsome deer
whilst out hunting one day. Struck by the words of the pious holyman, the
prince allowed himself to be baptised in the Bishop's well. His brother,
Rufine, soon followed suit. Their father, King Wulfhere, had relapsed into
Paganism and was furious at his sons. Having his mind further poisoned by their
enemy - a thane named Werbode - he rode out and slew them both with his own
hands. Immediately stung with remorse, however, the King fell ill and was
counselled by his queen to ask Chad to give him absolution. As a penance, the
saint told him to build several abbeys and, amongst the number, he completed
Peterborough Minster (Cathedral), which his brother had begun. He was converted
to Christianity and, often afterwards, sought the Bishop's advice.
After a rule of two and a
half years, a deadly plague began to ravage the Midlands. Many of the Lichfield
brethren were felled by the disease and it was not long before Bishop Chad's
time came near. This was heralded by a heavenly audition, witnessed by Owin, a
monk of great merit who had joined Chad at Lastingham from the entourage of St.
Etheldreda, whilst he worked outside the Bishop's oratory. Chad immediately
called upon him to gather the brethren, then praying in the church, around him.
He encouraged them to preserve the virtue of peace amongst them and follow his
example in all things when he had gone. He explained to Owin that his death
would come to pass within seven days, and so it did.
Chad died on the 2nd
March AD 672 and was first buried in St. Mary's Church at Lichfield. Like many
cathedrals of the time, however, there were many churches in the Episcopal
complex and when the Church of St. Peter was completed, his bones were
translated thither. Frequent miraculous cures were attested in both places.
Though Chad's episcopate
was short, it was abundantly esteemed by the warm-hearted Mercians, for
thirty-one churches are dedicated in his honour, all in the midland counties,
either in or near the ancient diocese of Lichfield. His relics were translated
to the present Cathedral, when it was rebuilt by Bishop Roger, in honour of SS.
Mary and Chad. There, they reposed in a beautiful shrine erected by Bishop
Walter Langton in his newly-built Lady Chapel from the early 14th century until
the Reformation. Some of them were saved from destruction and are now on
display in Birmingham Roman Catholic Cathedral.
Chad's emblem is a
branch, perhaps this was suggested by the Gospel of St. John which speaks of
the fruitful branches of the vine. This was formerly read on the Feast of
Chad's Translation, which was celebrated with great pomp at Lichfield every 2nd
August. However, he is most easily recognised in art through his cradling a
little church with three spires, ie. Lichfield Cathedral.
Partly Edited from S.
Baring-Gould's "The Lives of the Saints" (1877).
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20150906220301/http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/chad1.html
Saint Chad, Saint Peada et Saint Wulfhere, entrée occidentale de la Cathédrale de Lichfield
St
Chad (left), alongside Mercian kings Peada and Wulfhere, as portrayed in 19th century sculpture
above the western entrance to Lichfield Cathedral.
St
Chad - Patron Saint of Medicinal Springs
Dr Bruce Osborne -
revised Spring 2009
The Archaeological record
There are a number of
significant sites in England that celebrate the cult of St Chad. This
interesting phenomenon first identified by James Rattue in Living Stream,
(1995) is the preponderance of St Chads Wells. This list has subsequently been
consolidated by Harte (2008). The value of Harte’s work as an authoritative
publication is that it provides a gazetteer of sources and their recording over
the centuries and as such is a new prime reference point for anyone wishing to
locate and conduct further research on particular sites or cults. The
bibliography in particular gives students of Holy Wells a substantial guide
with regard to source material. Harte identifies the following early
spring/well sites dedicated to St Chad in addition to Lichfield Cathedral
itself.
In the examples the
locations are given with an indication of the date of known first recording.
Tushingham in Cheshire 1301 (p.27); Lastingham in Yorkshire 19th century (p43,
v2p356); Stowe near Lichfield 14th century (p44,101, v2p325); Abbots Bromley in
Staffordshire c.1300 (p.64, v2p321); Wilne in Derbyshire medieval (p64.
v2p190); Chadkirk in Cheshire c.1306 (p64, v2p178); Chadshunt in Warwickshire
1695 (p64,79, v2p331); St Pancras in London (p.64, v2p266); Bedhampton in
Hampshire (v3p443); Stepney in London (v3p448). Chadwell in Essex 19th century
(v3p388); Chadwell Heath in Essex 19th century (v3p388); Birdbrook in Essex
19th century (v3p388); Brettenham in Norfolk 19th century (v3p402);
Peterborough in Northamptonshire 17th century (v3p403); Warmington in
Northamptonshire 20th century (v3p404); Chadswell in Shropshire 19th century
(v3p407); Midsomer Norton in Somerset 19th century (v3p413); Chaigley in
Lancashire 20th century (v3p430); together with a number of doubtful and
spurious wells as follows: Pertenhall in Bedfordshire (v3p436); Shodwell in
Cheshire (v3p437); Prestbury in Gloucestershire 1201 (v3p442); Twyning in
Gloucestershire (v3p443); Ware in Hertfordshire (v3p444); Chaigley in
Lancashire (v3p446); Barton-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire (v3p447); South Ferriby
in Lincolnshire (v3p.448); Shadwell in Norfolk (v3p449); Broughton in
Oxfordshire (v3p450); Chatwall in Shropshire (v3p451); Shrewsbury in Shropshire
(v3p.451); Birmingham in Warwickshire (v3p454). With such an array of recorded
St Chad sites now consolidated by Harte into a single directory it raises the question:
what is the background to this popular well cult?
Early background to Chad
Ceadda was actually a
pre-Christian deity of healing springs and holy wells whose symbol was Crann
Bethadh, the Tree of Life. There is some confusion as to whether Ceadda was a
god or a goddess and the celebration may also have been originally Norse, not
Celtic. Chieftains were inaugurated at the Tree of Life. Through its roots and
branches the tree connected with the power both of the heavens and the worlds
below. St Chad represents a Christianisation of this healing spring deity.
St Chad (Anglo Saxon -
Ceadda) is regarded as the missionary who introduced Christianity to Mercia.
Born circa 620 in Northumbria, he was educated at the monastery of Lindisfarne,
or Holy Island, of which he became the bishop. Upon his canonization, St Chad
became the patron saint of medicinal springs. His year of consecration is
recorded in Anglo-Saxon Chronicles at 664.
Litchfield Established AD
669
In the year AD 669, the
year that the church in Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK was established, St Chad
came to Lichfield to be its first bishop. His appointment as Bishop of Mercia
was by King Wulfhere. Here he founded a monastery beside a well of spring
water. The spring was where he baptized the converts and the church that he
built was dedicated to St Mary.
The nature of St Chads
appointment as a bishop gave rise to the more recent and unfortunate use of the
word Chad to signify a false election result. From Mercia, Chad’s brother Cedd
had gone to work first with the East Saxons before going north to Lastingham
(in modern-day Yorkshire) where he had been given land for a monastery. On
Cedd’s death from plague in 664, Chad succeeded his brother as Abbot of
Lastingham and both brothers have a well there named after them.
The following year,
Wilfrid, Abbot of Ripon, was sent to France to be consecrated as bishop of the
Northumbrians. Wilfrid, however, lingered in France and Chad was summoned from
Lastingham to be consecrated in his place. Bishop Wini of the West Saxons was
the only bishop of the Roman tradition left in England, but, as three bishops
were required for a consecration, two others still following the British
traditions assisted.
In 669, Theodore of
Tarsus became Archbishop of Canterbury and immediately set about reforming the
English church. On discovering two bishops in Northumbria, he declared Chad’s
consecration invalid because of the participation of the two British bishops.
Chad’s reply revealed his deep humility: “If you know I have not duly received
episcopal ordination, I willingly resign the office, for I never thought myself
worthy of it; but, though unworthy, in obedience submitted to undertake it.”
Moved by this reply, Theodore completed Chad’s consecration according to Roman
rites. However, Wilfrid remained as Bishop of York and so Chad returned to
Lastingham.
This state of affairs did
not last long, as later in the same year King Wulfhere of Mercia requested a
bishop and Theodore sent Chad. Although there had been previous bishops working
in Mercia, it was with Chad that the see was fixed at Lichfield and so Chad can
be correctly described as the first Bishop of Lichfield.
The Stag Legend
The background to St
Chad’s ministry in Lichfield is legendary. Wulfhere was the Christian king who
had asked Theodore, the archbishop, to provide him with someone to be bishop in
Mercia, and so Chad had come to Lichfield. According to this legend, Wulfhere
later renounced his Christian faith at the persuasion of an evil counsellor
called Werbode, and two of his sons, Wulfhad and Ruffin, were brought up as
pagans.
While out hunting one
day, son Wulfhad raised a stag which he followed to St Chad's cell at
Lichfield, where it plunged into the spring there - now St Chad's Well - before
fleeing into the forest again. On reaching the spring, Wulfhad saw Chad and
asked him which way the stag had gone. Chad told him that he was to follow the
stag no further. Its purpose had been to bring him here, to Chad's cell, so
that he could be baptised in the Christian faith. Wulfhad challenged Chad, if
his God was so great, to bring the stag back by prayer. Chad knelt and prayed,
the stag returned and Wulfhad was baptised at the spring.
The next morning, Wulfhad
returned home and told his brother all that had happened. Ruffin decided that
he, too, would be baptised and the stag once more appeared, to lead them
through the forest to Chad's cell.
Thereafter, the two
brothers made frequent visits to Chad to be instructed in the Christian faith.
However, the evil Werbode became suspicious and, after a successful spying
mission, reported the brothers to their father, the king. In an uncontrollable
rage, Wulfhere went to Chad's cell and demanded of his two sons that they
renounced their new faith. When they refused, he slew them both. (Chad was
saved, we are told, because on hearing their father approaching, the brothers
had persuaded him to slip away.)
Later, realising what he
had done, Wulfhere was overcome by guilt and fell ill. Eventually, he agreed to
follow the advice of his wife and seek out Chad so that he could repent and be
absolved of his sin. The stag made its third appearance, to lead Wulfhere to
Chad. On arriving at the cell, Wulfhere could hear Chad saying Mass, and,
conscious of his guilt, was reluctant to go in.
When Mass was finished,
Chad hung his vestments on a convenient sunbeam (or so we are told) and came
out to meet Wulfhere. As a penance for his sins, Wulfhere was instructed to
replace paganism with Christianity throughout his kingdom, to found churches and
monasteries, and to lead a Christian life.
Bede indicates that St
Chad zealously devoted himself to all the laborious functions of his charge,
visiting his diocese on foot, preaching the gospel, and seeking out the poorest
and most abandoned persons in the meanest cottages and in the fields, that he
might instruct them. When old age compelled him to retire, he settled with
seven or eight monks near Lichfield. Tradition described him as greatly
affected by storms; he called thunder 'the voice of God,' regarding it as
designed to call men to repentance, and lower their self-sufficiency. On these
occasions, he would go into the church, and continue in prayer until the storm
had abated.
Stowe
There is some confusion
as to whether the original church was on the site of the Lichfield Cathedral
rather than a short walk away at nearby Stowe. It is likely that Chad’s church,
dedicated to St. Mary, was somewhere on the site of the present cathedral and
that the church nearby at Stowe was the site of the ‘house near the church,
where he used to retire privately with seven or eight brethren in order to pray
or study whenever his work and preaching permitted’.
St Chads church at Stowe
is only about a half mile from Lichfield Cathedral. The present day church is a
12th century and later construction, the original Saxon one having been
demolished. St Chads Well can be seen in the grounds of the present day church.
It lies beneath a canopy erected in 1951, replacing an earlier enclosed stone
built structure. Some say, St Chad was wont, naked, to stand in the water and
pray, a habit that likely led to his saintly patronisation of cold bathing.
Well Dressing here can be dated from the nineteenth century. This practice was
revived in 1995.
Chad’s Death and his relicts
After two and a half
years at Lichfield, there came a time of plague which ‘freed many members of
the reverend bishop’s church from the burden of the flesh’. It is related that
seven days before his death, a monk named Arvinus, who was outside the building
in which he lay, heard a sound as of heavenly music attendant upon a company of
angels, who visited the saint to forewarn him of his end. St Chad died in 672
and his body was buried near the church of St Mary’s. In 700 his bones were
relocated to the newly completed cathedral in Lichfield. His remains were
enclosed in a rich shrine, which, being resorted to by multitudes of pilgrims,
caused the gradual rise of the city of Lichfield from a small village. It is
related that the saint's tomb had a hole in it, through which the pilgrims used
to take out portions of the dust, which, mixed with holy water, they gave to
men and animals to drink.
Chad's cult was destroyed
at the Reformation and his relics were scattered, apparently in 1538. A
prebendary of Lichfield, Arthur Dudley (a relative of the Sutton Lords Dudley
and of the cadet branch of the Dudley family who held various high offices and
titles in 16th C), scooped up a few of Chad's bones. He is said, in a document
written by a Jesuit priest in mid 17th C, to have deposited them with two
sisters, members of his family, in Russells Hall, Dudley. The sisters
eventually entrusted the few bones to Henry and William Hodgetts, recusants of
Woodsetton in the neighbouring parish of Sedgley. William died first (he
apparently 'divined' thefts with a crystal ball, among other things). Just
before Henry died, in 1651 (not 1615, as the local version has it, from an
early 19th C published translation of the Latin), he gave the relics to the
Jesuit priest who administered the Last Rites. The fragments were given by the
Jesuit to a member of the Leveson family, royalists and recusants, at least one
of whom was involved in defending Dudley Castle around that time. A Puritan
raid on a Leveson house resulted in the loss of some of the bones. The rest
were hidden by other Staffordshire recusant families until religious toleration
acts were passed at the end of 18th C and beginning of 19th, and the Cathedral
for the RC Archdiocese of Birmingham was the obvious destination for them.
(supplied by Buckley C from Greenslade 1996 & 2006)
St Chad remains and are
now in the hands of the Birmingham Roman Catholic Cathedral. Carbon dating has
confirmed that the remains are contemporary with the life of St Chad.
Celebration of St Chad
and cold bathing
Sir John Floyer of
Lichfield, the celebrated physician to Charles II, in 1706 published a curious
collection of letters about the medicinal values of cold bathing. In his text
he describes St Chad as one of the first converters of our nation, who used
immersion in the baptism of the Saxons; such immersion being beneficial to the
body as well as the soul. Floyer concludes that the well near Stowe, which
bears Chad's name, was his baptistery, it being deep enough for immersion, and
conveniently seated near the church; and that it has the reputation of curing
sore eyes, scabs, &c. Sir John Floyer, it should be added, set up his own
baths at Unite’s Well. This lay about one mile north-west of Lichfield. He
appropriately named his baths after St Chad, the water of which he observes to
be the coldest in the neighbourhood. Sir John gives a table of diseases for
which St Chads Baths was efficacious (Floyer J. 1706, p.17 - 27.).
Chamber’s “Book of Days”
indicates that Chad was designated "Patron Saint of Medicinal
Springs" as a result of the miraculous healing achieved using the dust
from his shrine mixed with Holy Water. An alternative view, expressed by
Sunderland (1915) is that the designation resulted from his practice of bathing
naked in his well at Stowe, by the church.
Today’s archaeology
The cult of St Chad has
resulted in the name being adopted in up to 42 instances of springs and wells
and one may conclude that the patron saint of medicinal springs was a very
powerful endorsement of a well’s properties. This may not be as clear cut as first
assumed however. St Chad’s wells in some instances are likely a transformation
or hagiologising from “cealdwiella” or cold well. (Harte p.8) Chadwell in Essex
for example in 1578 was Chawdwell but by the 20th century had adopted the
nomenclature St Chad's Well. It is not surprising that Floyer therefore took an
interest in the well at Lichfield in view of his interest in cold bathing as a
cure. It would appear that St Chad became synonymous with cold wells.
Today we find St Chad's
name being used to name hospitals, doctor's surgeries and health centres. The
cult lives on. Meanwhile the St Chads Foundation Trust strives to protect and
enhance the site of St Chad’s Church and Spring at Stowe, near Lichfield.
St Chads Feast Day is
March 2nd.
B E Osborne 2009
General and detailed
sources:
Pictures by S Arnold and
B Osborne;
<Anglo-Saxon
Chronicles Ingram J (1912 reprint 1929). p.40.
Book of
Days Chambers R (1864) p.321.
Catholic
Staffordshire Greenslade M (2006) Gracewing Books, Leominster
The Forgotten
Cathedral Current Archaeology 205 (2006) Rodwell W, p.9-17.
English Holy Wells – a
sourcebook Harte J (2008) Heart of Albion Loughborough. Vols 2 and 3 are
the gazetteer.
History of Cold Bathing –
both ancient and modern Floyer J (1706) Walford London.
London’s Spas, Baths and
Wells Sunderland S (1915) Bale, London. p.13-16.
On Eagles Wings The Life
and Spirit of St Chad Adam D (1999) Triangle London.
Saint Chad of Lichfield
and Birmingham Greenslade M W, (Archdiocese of Birmingham Historical
Commission, publication number 10, 1996)
The Living Stream – Holy
Wells in Historical Context Rattue J (1995) Boydell Woodbridge
Other sources include
www.stchads.org.uk together with the archives of the Spas Research Fellowship.
James Rattue and Jeremy Harte have both aided the preparation of this paper.
SOURCE : http://www.thespasdirectory.com/discover_the_spa_research_fell.asp?i=10#
Saint
Chad, vitrail de Christopher Whall. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
San Ceadda (Chad) di
Lichfield Abate e vescovo
† Lichfield, Inghilterra,
2 marzo 672
Patronato: Diocesi di
Birmingham
Martirologio Romano: A
Lichfield in Inghilterra, san Ceadda, vescovo, che nelle allora povere province
della Mercia, del Lindsey e dell’Anglia meridionale, resse l’ufficio
episcopale, impegnandosi ad amministrarlo secondo l’esempio degli antichi Padri
in grande perfezione di vita.
San Ceadda (Chad)
proveniva da una famiglia molto religiosa della Northumbria, della quale ben
quattro fratelli divennero sacerdoti, due addirittura vescovi. Egli fu
discepolo di Sant’Aidano di Lindisfarne, e proprio in quest’ultima città
soggiornò per un certo periodo e ricevette dal suo maestro un’ottima
formazione. Ancora in giovane età, si trasferì in Irlanda, dove insieme al
compagno Egberto visse da monaco, immerso nella preghiera, nel digiuno e nella
meditazione delle Sacre Scritture. Ricevette l’ordinazione presbiterale
probabilmente una volta tornato in Inghilterra. Nulla sappiamo di preciso sulla
sua vita sino alla morte del fratello San Cedda. Quest’ultimo predicò il Vangelo
agli angli del centro, fu pi vescovo ed apostolo dei sassoni orientali ed
infine fondò ed amministrò il monastero di Lastingham, che poi lasciò in
eredità al fratello.
Il nuovo abate si ritrovò
ben presto nel mezzo di una intricata questine politica, che coinvolse i
sovrani dei regni vicini e dei principali monasteri, ma che sarebbe lungo ed
inutile riportare nei dettagli. Da ciò Ceadda ne ricavò la consacrazione
episcopale, non solo in base a calcoli fatti a tavolino, ma proprio perchè
nessuno dubitava sulla sua santità e sulle lodevoli qualità, come ebbe a
testimoniare nelle sue memorie anche San Beda il Venerabile. Sorserò però dei
dubbi sulla legittimità della sua nomina e della sua ordinazione, contestata da
San Vilfrido che si rivolse al nuovo arcivescovo San Teodoro di Tarso dal quale
ebbe pieno appoggio. Ceadda non esitò allora a farsi da parte per obbedienza ed
umiltà, ma Teodoro commosso dalla sua reazione, convalidò la consacrazione
episcopale di Ceadda, che comunque preferì ritirarsi a vita monastica presso
Lastingham.
Quando però ben presto la
Mercia rimase senza vescovi, Teodoro richiamò nuovamente Ceadda che prese
possesso della sede di Lichfield. Vicino alla cattedrale il santo fece
edificare un luogo ove portersi ritirare in preghiera con altri monaci quando
era libero da altri impegni. Ricevette inoltre in dono un terreno presso Ad
Barvae, probabilmente l’odierna Barrow nella contea di Lindsey, ove fondare un
nuovo monastero. Annunciò in anticipo ai frati la prossimità della sua
scomparsa, persuadendoli a vivere in pace con tutto e con tutti, rimanendo
fedeli alle regole monastiche apprese da lui e dai suoi predecessori. Spirò
infine il 2 marzo 672, dopo aver ricevuto la comunione sotto le due specie, a
causa di quella tremenda epidemia di peste che parecchie vittime aveva già
mietuto tra i suoi fedeli.
Il suo vecchio amico
Egberto asserì che fu vista l’anima di Cedd scendere dal cielo assieme ad uno
stormo di angeli per scortare il fratello verso la vita eterna. Dopo una
primitiva sepoltura, le sue spoglie furono traslate ove oggi sorge la
cattedrale di Lichfield. Su entrambe le tombe si verificarono numerosi
miracoli, grazie ai quali il suo culto si diffuse ampiamente. Con le invasioni
normanne si pensò che le reliquie fosse andate perdute, ma alcune di esse nel 1839
furono rinvenute e deposte sopra l’altar maggiore della nuova cattedrale di
Birmingham, di cui divenne patrono. Il nome di San Chad figura nei calendari e
nelle litanie anglosassoni e ad esso vennero dedicate parecchie chiese
medioevali nell’Inghilterra centrale.
Autore: Fabio
Arduino
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/43620
Eglwys
Sant Chad, Hanmer, Wrecsam.
Saint
Chad's Church, Hanmer, Wrexham, Cymru, Wales
Den hellige Chad av
Lichfield (~623-672)
Minnedag: 2.
mars
Den hellige Chad (Cedda;
gmleng: Ceadda) ble født rundt 623 i Northumbria i Nord-England. Han kom fra en
adelig anglisk familie som hadde slått seg ned der. Det har vært gjort forsøk
på å hevde at han var skotsk eller irsk, men han var helt sikkert anglisk, selv
om navnet Chad skal ha vært av britisk keltisk opprinnelse snarere enn
angelsaksisk. Han hadde tre eldre brødre, den hellige Cedd av Lastingham (Ceddus)
(ca 620-64), Caelin (Celin) (f. ca 621) og den hellige Cynebill (Cynibil,
Cymbel) (ca 622-64). Alle fire ble som gutter utdannet på Lindisfarne av de
hellige Aidan (Áedán)
(d. 651) og Finan
av Lindisfarne (d. 661). Lindisfarne (nå Holy Island) er en øy utenfor
kysten av Northumbria som er landfast ved lavvann. Aidan, som var en disippel
av den hellige Kolumba
av Iona, kom til Northumbria i 635.
Ved Aidans død i 651 ble
studentene sendt til Irland for videre studier, og Chad fikk deler av sin
utdannelse i et uidentifisert kloster ved navn Rathmelsigi (Rathelmigisi,
Rathmelsige, Rathemigisi, Rathelmigisi), av noen identifisert som Clonmelsh i
grevskapet Carlow i provinsen Leinster, av andre som Mellifont i grevskapet Louth
i Leinster. Der studerte de sammen med en jevnaldrende munk fra Lindisfarne,
den hellige Egbert
av Iona. Alle fire brødrene ble prester – Cedd og Chad ble også senere
biskoper. En kilde sier at Chad ble presteviet i 653 og vendte tilbake til
England for å begynne på sin tjeneste som misjonær, en annen kilde sier at han
fortsatt var i Irland i 664.
Chads eldre bror Cedd
arbeidet som misjonær blant østsakserne i Essex, og under et besøk på
Lindisfarne hadde abbed Finan i 654 vigslet ham til misjonsbiskop. Imens hadde
Cedds og Chads bror Caelin undervist og døpt kong Ethelwald av Deira (651-656),
sønn av den hellige kong Osvald av
Northumbria (634-42), som utnevnte ham til sin kapellan. Caelin
foreslo for kongen at det ville være en god idé å grunnlegge et kloster i det
sørlige Northumbria, hvor han kunne be mens han levde og bli gravlagt når han
døde og hvor bønnene for hans sjel ville fortsette.
Caelin introduserte kong
Ethelwald for sin bror Cedd, som tilfeldigvis trengte en slik politisk base og
åndelig tilfluktssted. Han fikk et stykke land av kongen, og klosteret ble
grunnlagt i 658. Stedet ble kalt Laestingaeu, som er identifisert som
Lastingham i North Riding, like ved en av de fortsatt brukbare romerske veiene.
Her ble Cedd den første abbeden, og han kom ofte tilbake dit til tross for sine
forpliktelser som biskop. Cedd fastet i førti dager for å konsekrerte stedet, og
dette var en skikk fra Lindisfarne som stammet fra den hellige Kolumba. Men da
han var kommet til den trettiende dagen, ble han tilkalt til viktige affærer,
og da overtok broren Cynibil fasten på de resterende ti dagene. Lastingham ble
opplagt sett på som en base for familien og planlagt å være under deres
kontroll i overskuelig fremtid, noe som ikke var uvanlig i denne perioden.
Etter Ethelwald ble
tronen overtatt av Oswiu (Oswy), som var konge av Bernicia fra 642 og av hele
Northumbria (Bernicia og Deira) fra 655 til sin død i 670. Hans sønn Alcfrid
(Alchfrith) av Deira (656-64) var medregent for Deira under sin far. Som ung
mann hadde Oswiu tilbrakt en tid i eksil i Skottland og Irland, og han fikk
opplæring og ble døpt klosteret på øya Iona i De indre Hebridene på vestkysten
av Skottland. Øya het opprinnelig Hy, men fikk senere navnet Iona etter den
hellige Kolumba (=
due på latin; hebr: iona). I Irland fikk han sønnen Aldfrid (Aldfrith) med
den irske kvinnen Fina. Aldfrid ble senere konge av Northumbria (685-704).
Nord-England var kristnet
både fra Irland og fra Sør-England, og dette skapte visse konflikter, for det
oppsto strid i den angelsaksiske Kirken om beregningen av påsken og andre
«irske» kirkelige skikker, som formen på tonsuren og etter hvert biskopenes
rolle og forholdet mellom lokalkirkene og Roma. Disse «irske» skikkene kunne
like gjerne kalles skotske, piktiske, britiske, northumbriske eller ganske
enkelt «keltiske».
Kong Oswiu hadde
oppmuntret munker fra Nord-Irland til å komme til landet. De holdt fast på den
keltiske tidsfastsettelse av påsken fra Iona, og kongen fulgte de irske
skikkene. Det samme gjorde Finan av Lindisfarne (d. 661), som på det sterkeste
motsatte seg fornyerne fra Kent eller utlandet, som ville innføre de romerske
skikkene som ble fulgt i resten av Europa. Finan motsto alle argumenter, men
han gikk til slutt med på at den hellige Wilfrid av York fikk
reise fra Lindisfarne til Roma.
Men kong Oswiu var gift
med den hellige Enfleda, datter
av den hellige kong Edwin av Northumbria (616-33)
og hans dronning, den hellige Ethelburga, en
prinsesse fra Kent. Hun var trofast mot sine lærere, som var opplært i Roma, og
hun var beskytter for Wilfrid av York da han var en ung mann. Hun holdt fast
ved den europeiske beregningsmåten for påsken, og dermed feiret kongen og
dronningen påsken på forskjellig tidspunkt, og det absurde i denne situasjonen
hjalp til å få avgjort spørsmålet
Kongen innkalte synoden i
Whitby (Streaneshalch) i 664 (eller 663), hvor det deltok kirkeledere fra hele
England. Finans etterfølger, den hellige biskop Colman av
Lindisfarne, var den viktigste forsvareren av de keltiske skikkene, sammen
med den mektige abbedisse Hilda av Whitby og
biskop Cedd av Lastingham, som imidlertid prøvde å opptre som megler mellom de
to sidene. Det romerske partiet ble ledet av den hellige Agilbert av Paris,
som tidligere var biskop av Dorchester, men han ba Wilfrid, som han nylig hadde
viet til prest, til å være hovedtalsmann på hans vegne, ettersom hans eget
kjennskap til gammelengelsk var ufullkommen. Andre på den romerske siden var
den hellige Ronan,
dronningens kapellan Romanus og Jakob Diakonen, som hadde blitt værende i
Swaledale etter at den hellige Paulinus av York flyktet
fra Yorkshire.
Wilfrid talte varmt for
den romerske og vesteuropeiske tradisjonen. Ingen av de to sidene kunne bevise
sitt syn historisk, men kong Oswiu aksepterte til slutt Wilfrids argumenter om
at de romerske tradisjonene ble fulgt i resten av Europa, og det ble vedtatt at
de romerske skikkene skulle følges i hele kongeriket. Hilda og Cedd aksepterte
avgjørelsen, noe som bidro til å hindre splittelse. En irsk synode hadde
akseptert den romerske beregningsmåten allerede noen år tidligere, og etter
hvert var den innført i hele England. Men biskop Colman av Lindisfarne gikk av
i protest mot vedtakene på synoden i Whitby og vendt tilbake til Iona sammen
med alle de irske munkene og tretti av de engelske, og de tok levningene av den
hellige Aidan
av Lindisfarne med seg. Den hellige Tuda ble
konsekrert til northumbrisk biskop i stedet, men han døde kort etter.
Etter synoden i Whitby i
663/64 trakk Cedd seg tilbake til sin grunnleggelse i Lastingham, i følge
historien for å dø under monastisk lydighet, men han var nok alt for ung til å
vente på døden ennå. Men uheldigvis herjet det en pest i Nord-England på den
tiden, og både Cedd og broren Cynebill ble smittet. Etter å ha utnevnt deres
yngste bror Chad til ny abbed i Lastingham, døde de begge, Cedd den 26. oktober
664, en dato vi kjenner fra Florence av Worcester. Beda forteller at da nyheten
om Cedds død nådde munkene i Essex, reiste tretti av dem nordover, «enten, hvis
Gud vil, å bo nær legemet av deres Far, eller å dø og bli lagt til hvile sammen
med ham». De var til stede i begravelsen, men de ble smittet av den samme
pesten og døde i Lastingham, bortsett fra en gutt, som etterpå ble funnet å ha
vært udøpt. Han levde og ble prest og en nidkjær misjonær. Cedd ble først
gravlagt utenfor murene i Lastingham, men senere ble han overført til koret i
en nybygd steinkirke viet til Jomfru Maria og
bisatt til høyre for alteret.
Chad var fortsatt i
Irland da hans to brødre døde i pesten, men han dro straks til Lastingham og
overtok som abbed i tråd med brorens ønske. Lastingham var en liten kommunitet
under den hellige Kolumbas regel i en avsidesliggende, vakker landsby helt i
utkanten av de nordlige York Moors nær Whitby i North Yorkshire. Men Chad fikk
bare være abbed der i ett år.
Kong Alcfrid grunnla et
kloster i Ripon, hvor romerske skikker ble innført. Ifølge Beda ble Tuda
etterfulgt som abbed av Lindisfarne av den hellige abbed Eata av
Melrose. Kong Alcfrid ønsket å ha en egen biskop for sitt folk i Deira, og han
vendte seg til Wilfrid, abbeden i Ripon, og utnevnte ham i 664 til biskop.
Wilfrid flyttet det northumbriske bispesetet fra Lindisfarne til York (da
Eoforwyc), hovedstad i Deira og Northumbria, og dermed ble embetene som abbed
og biskop av Lindisfarne delt. Senere, da den hellige erkebiskop Theodor av Canterbury delte
det enorme bispedømmet Northumbria i 678 over hodet på biskop Wilfrid, ble Eata
biskop av Bernicia, den nordlige halvparten, med sete i Hexham. Tre år senere
ble også dette bispedømmet delt i bispedømmene Hexham og Lindisfarne, og Eata
styrte Lindisfarne som biskop fra 681 til 684.
Mange nordlige biskoper
hadde avvist vedtaket fra Whitby, så den rimelig arrogante Wilfrid betraktet
dem temmelig urettferdig som skismatikere. Derfor insisterte han på å dra til det
frankiske kongeriket Neustria for å motta bispevielsen der. Med samtykke av
kong Oswiu sendte Alcfrid Wilfrid sørover for å bispevies. Wilfrid oppsøkte sin
egen lærer og beskytter Agilbert, en talsmann for den romerske linjen på
synoden i Whitby, som var blitt utnevnt til biskop av Paris. Han satte i gang
prosessen for å få bispeviet Wilfrid kanonisk, og han innkalte flere biskoper
til Compiègne for seremonien. Beda forteller at Wilfrid deretter ble værende en
tid utenlands, men han nevner ikke noen grunn til dette.
Til slutt mistet kong
Oswiu tålmodigheten og grep inn og insisterte på å få valgt en ny biskop. Vi
vet ikke om han ville irettesette Alcfrid eller om abbeden for Lastingham, det
andre kongelige klosteret i Deira, var det eneste åpenbare alternativet i
Wilfrids stadige fravær. I 665 utnevnte i alle fall kong Oswiu Chad til biskop.
Det var mangel på
biskoper i Nord-England, så Chad fikk de samme problemene som Wilfrid hadde
hatt. Han dro derfor sørover til Canterbury for å bispevies. Han ble fulgt av
kongens kapellan Edhed, som senere ble abbed i Ripon. Men da Chad kom til Kent,
fant han at den hellige erkebiskop Deusdedit (655-64)
var død i pesten og hans valgte etterfølger, Wighard (Wigheard), var i Roma for
å konsekreres. Den hellige biskop Ithamar av Rochester var
døende og kunne ikke hjelpe, men siden det fantes en biskop for vestsakserne i
Wessex, var Chad uklok nok til å fortsette dit. Der ble de hilst velkommen av
den simonistiske Wine av Dorchester-on-Thames (simoni er kjøp og salg av
embeter). Wine var den eneste kanonisk vigslete biskopen i Britannia, men han
hadde blitt innsatt irregulært av kongen av Wessex. En bispevigsel krevde tre
biskoper, og derfor sendte Wine bud på to britiske biskoper fra Wales eller
Cornwall av tvilsom ortodoksi. Så ble Chad vigslet til biskop i katedralen i
Dorchester. Deretter reiste han nordover og ble innsatt i York. Som modell for
sitt virke som biskop tok han sin hellige lærer Aidan og sin hellige bror Cedd.
I 666 kom Wilfrid endelig
tilbake til York, men da var hans beskytter Alcfrid død (eller forvist) og Chad
var innsatt på hans bispesete. Chad var imidlertid kjent som en from og ydmyk mann,
så Wilfrid trakk seg tilbake til klosteret i Ripon for å unngå konfrontasjon.
Han hevdet imidlertid sin biskoppelige rang ved å dra til Mercia og til og med
Kent for å ordinere prester.
I 669 kom den nyvalgte
erkebiskop Theodor
av Canterbury (668-90) til England som Deusdedits etterfølger, etter
at erkebiskop-elekt Wighard hadde fått et hjerteattakk og døde i Roma i 667 før
han var blitt konsekrert. Noe av det første Theodor gjorde, var å reise rundt
til alle deler av landet på visitasjon og konsekrere biskoper der det var
nødvendig. Han kom også til York i 669. Han erklærte at Chads valg og
konsekrasjon var ugyldig, forviste ham og gjeninnsatte Wilfrid.
Chad ydmykhet var tydelig
i den måten han aksepterte erkebiskopens avgjørelse. Han sa til Theodor: «Hvis
du mener at jeg ikke har blitt korrekt konsekrert, trekker jeg meg villig fra
denne oppgaven, som jeg aldri har syntes jeg var verdig til å inneha. Jeg tok
den på meg, selv om jeg var uverdig, under lydighet». Den forbløffede Theodor
var imponert over hans personlighet, så han konsekrerte ham på nytt (eller
supplerte det han mente manglet ved den forrige vigselen) før han fikk dra
tilbake til klosteret i Lastingham.
Men der fikk Chad ikke
være lenge. Biskop Jaruman av Mercia var død i 667, og kong Wulfhere (657-74),
som var blitt kristen, ba erkebiskop Theodor om en ny biskop. I stedet for å
konsekrere en ny biskop, overtalte Theodor kong Oswiu til å la Chad få reise
fra Lastingham, og senere i 669 utnevnte Theodor Chad til biskop av Mercia og
Lindsey. Beda forteller at Chad var den tredje biskopen som ble sendt til kong
Wulfhere, noe som gjorde ham til den femte biskopen av Mercia, etter Diuma, Ceollach,
Trumhere og Jaruman. Lindsey, som mer eller mindre tilsvarer det moderne
Lincolnshire, var under Mercias kontroll, selv om det i perioder hadde vært underlagt
Northumbria.
Chads utnevnelse skyldtes
ikke minst hans fremragende karakter, for både Wilfrids biograf Eddius og den
hellige Beda den
ærverdige beskriver ham som ydmyk, from, nidkjær og apostolisk. Hele
sin tid i Northumbria hadde Chad gått rundt i sitt bispedømme til fots, men
erkebiskopen ga ham ordre om alltid å bruke hest når han var på lange reiser i
evangeliets tjeneste. Chad var tilbøyelig til å ville protestere, men da løste
den nesten syttiårige erkebiskopen spørsmålet ved personlig å løfte Chad opp på
hesteryggen (sannsynligvis var den nyutnevnte biskopen liten og spedbygd). Hans
bispedømme omfattet sytten grevskaper og strakte seg fra Severn til Nordsjøen.
Senere skulle bispedømmet bli delt og bispedømmene Worcester, Leicester,
Lindsey og Hereford skilles ut.
Den nye biskopen flyttet
bispesetet fra Repton i Derbyshire, hvor Mercias første biskop, den
hellige Diuma,
hadde etablert seg, til Lichfield («likjordet») i Staffordshire, hvor en gang
tusen kristne hadde lidd martyrdøden. Chads episkopat la grunnlaget for
bispesetet i Lichfield i henhold til dekretene fra Theodors konsil i Hertford.
Muligens ønsket han å være nærmere det populære kongelige palasset i Tamworth.
Beda sier at Chad
«administrerte sitt bispedømme med stor hellighet, idet han fulgte eksemplet
til de gamle fedre». Han grunnla et kloster i Lincolnshire, i Ad Barvae («I
skogen») i provinsen Lindsey, trolig Barrow upon Humber, selv om noen mener det
er Barton-on-Humber i samme område, hvor det fortsatt står en saksisk kirke.
Der fikk han femti bol land (rundt 20 000 mål) av kong Wulfhere av Mercia.
Chad bygde et enkelt
oratorium ved siden av Stowe Pool ikke langt fra katedralen i Lichfield, hvor
han levde og ba når han ikke reiste rundt til fots i sitt store bispedømme.
Tilknyttet oratoriet var en stor kilde og en liten kirke (St. Chad’s). Hver
morgen pleide biskopen å stige naken ned i kilden og meditere i det iskalde
vannet før han dro rundt i bispedømmet for å ta seg av de trengende. Rundt seg
i sitt oratorium samlet han en misjonsgruppe på syv eller åtte av sine brødre
fra Lastingham. Der kunne han når tiden tillot det og han var fri for andre plikter,
trekke seg tilbake for å be og lese sammen med de andre munkene.
Men Chads episkopat varte
i mindre enn tre år. Beda forteller at en dag i februar 672 var en av Chads
munker ved navn Oswini utenfor og arbeidet da han hørte vakker og glad sang.
Lyden kom nærmere og fylte kapellet hvor Chad var i bønn, og etter rundt en
halvtime vendte sangen tilbake til himmelen. Chad åpnet vinduet i kapellet for
å tilkalle Oswini, og han ba ham hente de andre brødrene. Han formante dem til
å leve i fred med alle og fortsette å være trofaste mot den monastiske disiplin
som de hadde lært av ham og hans forgjengere. Deretter kunngjorde han at hans
død nærmet seg.
Syv dager senere, den 2.
mars 672, døde Chad i Lichfield etter å ha mottatt sakramentene. Han falt som
offer for den pesten som allerede hadde rammet mange av hans folk. Hans gamle
venn Egbert erklærte at Chads sjel var sett stigende opp sammen med engler som
fulgte ham til himmelen. Han ble gravlagt nær Mariakirken i Lichfield, og i
følge Beda ble han straks æret som helgen.
I 700 fikk biskop Headda
bygd en kirke over hans grav, katedralen St. Peter, der hvor den nåværende
katedralen i Lichfield står. Det ble meldt om helbredelser i begge kirkene, og
hans kult spredte seg. Beda beskriver hans første skrin som «en trekiste formet
som et lite hus med en åpning i siden, hvor de troende kan (…) ta ut noe av
støvet, som de blander i vann og gir syke kveg eller mennesker å drikke, og
deretter er de straks fri for sin skrøpelighet og gjenvinner sin helse». En
biografi på gammelengelsk er også bevart. På 1000-tallet kom også broren Cedds
relikvier til Lichfield og ble æret sammen med brorens. En rekke mirakler ble
tilskrevet Chads relikvier. Det tidligste bevitnes av Beda den ærverdige, som
forteller at en mentalt forstyrret omstreifer søkte ly i kirken hvor Chad var
gravlagt og forlot den neste morgen, med alle sine åndsevner i behold.
Det skjedde flere
translasjoner av Chads relikvier etter den normanniske invasjonen i 1066, blant
annet i 1148. Valfartene fortsatte også etter 1066, og en normannisk kirke ble
bygd på 1100-tallet. Men denne andre kirken varte bare rundt hundre år før den
ble erstattet av den nåværende gotiske katedralen, som hadde et større kor i
øst, inkludert et Lady Chapel, for å gi plass til strømmen av pilegrimer. Hans
relikvier ble flyttet til Lady Chapel i 1296. Walter de Langton, som ble biskop
av Lichfield i 1296, fikk bygd et marmorskrin bak høyalteret. Noen av Chads
relikvier ble oppbevart i et bærbart skrin, kalt et feretrum (eng:
feretory), hans hode ble æret i Chapel of St. Chad’s Head og andre
relikvier ble fremvist på galleriet i det sørlige sidekoret.
Et enda mer praktfullt
skrin ble bygd av Robert Stretton, biskop av Lichfield (1360-85), da den
nåværende katedralen ble bygd og viet til Jomfru Maria og
Chad. Skrinets fundament var av marmor og skrinet smykket med gull og
edelstener. Under den såkalte reformasjonen på 1500-tallet ba Rowland Lee,
biskop av Coventry og Lichfield (1534-43), innstendig kong Henrik VIII
(1509-47) om å spare skrinet. Det ble også gjort, men bare en stund. Det varte
ikke lenge før kongens offiserer ga etter for sitt begjær etter gullet og
edelsteinene, så skrinet ble brutt i stykker. På et ukjent tidspunkt ble Chads
hode og noen andre relikvier, trolig et reisesett, tatt ut av hovedskrinet av
en viss prebendeinnehaver Arthur Dudley (1531-77), kannik ved katedralen. Det
er mulig at resten av relikviene fortsatt ligger bak alteret i Lichfield.
De bergete relikviene
gikk senere videre til hans nieser Bridget og Katherine Dudley fra Russells
Hall. I 1651 dukket de opp igjen da bonden Henry Hodgetts fra Sedgley lå på
dødsleiet og stadig ba til St. Chad. Da presten som hørte hans siste
skriftemål, p. Peter Turner SJ, spurte ham hvorfor han påkalte Chad, svarte
Henry: «Fordi hans bein er i hodegjerdet til sengen min». Han instruerte sin
hustru om å gi relikviene til presten, og derfra fant de veien til seminaret i
Saint-Omer i Frankrike. Disse relikviene ble æret i Liège i 1671.
Etter at katolisismen
igjen ble tolerert på begynnelsen av 1800-tallet, kom relikviene i hendene på
Sir Thomas Fitzherbert-Brockholes av Aston Hall nær Stone i Staffordshire. Da
hans kapell ble ryddet etter hans død, oppdaget hans kapellan, p. Benjamin
Hulme, boksen som inneholdt relikviene, seks store knokler. De ble undersøkt og
i 1837 gitt til den katolske biskopen Thomas Walsh, apostolisk vikar av Midland
District. I 1839 begynte byggingen av Birminghams katolske katedral på et sted
hvor det tidligere hadde stått et kapell viet til Chad. Da katedralen ble
konsekrert i 1841, ble disse knoklene lagt i et skrin over høyalteret, tegnet
av Augustus Pugin. I 1931 ble et skinnebein flyttet til et relikvar i St.
Edvard-kapellet. I 1919 ble det innført en årlig messe og høytidelig utendørs
prosesjon med relikviene i St Chad’s Cathedral i Birmingham. Denne feiringen
har fortsatt til denne fag på den lørdagen som ligger nærmest hans minnedag 2.
mars.
Erkebiskop Maurice Couve
de Murville (1982-99) ga på begynnelsen av 1990-tallet sin tillatelse til
at knoklene gjennomgikk en osteologisk undersøkelse og karbondatering ved The
Oxford Archeological Laboratory. Resultatet av testen ble offentliggjort i
1996: Skinnebeinet ble tidfestet til 700-tallet og de fem andre beina stammer
fra 600-tallet. Men siden tre av knoklene var lårbein, må de tilhøre minst to
personer. De ble verifisert som «ekte relikvier» av Vatikanet og igjen plassert
i den romersk-katolske katedralen St. Chad i Birmingham. De kan godt ha en forbindelse
med Chad og også inkludere relikvier av ham selv. Chad er skytshelgen for
erkebispedømmet Birmingham.
Chads minnedag er
dødsdagen 2. mars med en translasjonsfest den 4. mai. I Midlands feires hans
translasjonsfest på torsdag etter fjerde søndag i påsketiden. I Lichfield ble
hans translasjonsfest feiret med stor pomp og prakt den 2. august. Hans navn
står i Martyrologium Romanum. Noen kilder sier at han har minnedag sammen med
sin bror Cedd på sistnevntes dødsdag 26. oktober. Mange kirker ble viet til
ham, særlig i Midlands, og det finnes også mange kilder som har hans navn. Vi
kjenner ham hovedsakelig fra Beda den ærverdige, som fikk sine opplysninger fra
munkene i Lastingham. En av dem, Trumberht, var hans skrivelærer. En vakker
700-talls illustrert evangeliebok fra Mercia som kalles St. Chads
evangelier, var trolig knyttet til hans skrin, på samme måte som
Lindisfarne-evangeliene var knyttet til den hellige Cuthbert av
Lindisfarnes skrin. Det er nå i biblioteket i katedralen i Lichfield.
I kunsten avbildes Chad
ofte som biskop med den trespirete katedralen i Lichfield i hendene, og ofte
holder han en gren, vanligvis en vin-gren. Dette skyldes muligens
Johannesevangeliets ord fra Jesus om at han er vintreet og disiplene er
greinene, for dette evangeliet ble lest ved hans translasjonsfest i Lichfield
den 2. august. Han kan også være avbildet med katedralen i hendene midt på en
slagmark, omringet av døde. Chad har forblitt et ganske populært guttenavn, et
av de få fornavnene som var vanlige blant angelsaksere på 600-tallet, som
fortsatt er det. Det var imidlertid lite brukt i flere århundrer før en
beskjeden gjenoppblomstring kom på midten av 1900-tallet.
En legende knytter Chad
til de hellige Wulfhad
og Ruffin, angivelig sønner av kong Wulfhere av Mercia (657-74).
Den hellige
prinsesse Werburga
av Chester var datter av kong Wulfhere og den hellige Ermengild av Ely.
Hennes brødre var Wulfhad og Ruffin. Legenden forteller at hun var en vakker
ung jente som avviste mange friere, inkludert flere prinser, og sa at det var
fordi hun hadde lovet seg selv til Herren Jesus Kristus. Fremst blant frierne
var en favoritt ved farens hoff, Werbod. Wulfhere ga ham tillatelse til
ekteskap med datteren, på den betingelse at Werbod kunne få Werburgas
frivillige aksept. Men Werbod var ikke kristen, så Ermengild og hennes sønner
motsatte seg det foreslåtte ekteskapet.
Prinsene Wulfhad og
Ruffin var en dag ute på jakt da de ble ført av sitt bytte til den hellige
biskop Chads oratorium, hvor de fant ham i bønn. De ble så imponert over synet
av den skrøpelige gamle mannen på sine knær med ansiktet glødende i henrykkelse
at de knelte ned og ba om hans velsignelse. De fikk sin religiøse utdannelse og
ble døpt av Chad som bodde i en skog, slik at brødrene kunne late som om sine
besøk hos ham var jaktutflukter.
Men Werbod fant ut og
sladret på dem til kongen, som fikk dem drept. Werbod møtte en nedrig død kort
etter og kong Wulfhere ble slått av anger og søkte opplæring av sin hellige
dronning og biskop Chad. Dette gjorde at Werburga fikk mot til å be ham om
tillatelse til å gå i kloster i Ely, og dette sa han ja til. Chad ga Wulfhere i
bot å grunnlegge flere klostre, blant annet et kloster nær sin egen residens i
Stone, og der ble hans sønner gravlagt. Han fullførte også Peterborough Minster
(katedral), som hans bror hadde påbegynt.
Denne legenden er ytterst
upålitelig, men noen avbildninger av Chad viser ham mens han omvender de to
prinsene, som ble ført til ham av en hjort mens de var ute på jakt.
Kilder: Attwater/John,
Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Jones, Butler, Butler (III), Benedictines, Delaney,
Bunson, KIR, CE, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Bautz, Heiligenlexikon,
santiebeati.it, en.wikipedia.org, celt-saints, britannia.com,
earlybritishkingdoms.com, zeno.org, ODNB - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per
Einar Odden
Opprettet: 7. juni 1998
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/chad
.jpg)
Saint
Chad, Sainte Monique, Sainte Modwena, Saint Augustin d’Hippone, stained-glass
window, All Saints' parish church, Laughton, Lindsey, Lincolnshire
San Ceada (o Chad). Nació
a finales del siglo VI en Nortumbria (Inglaterra). De joven abrazó la vida
monástica, y llegó a ser abad. En circunstancias complejas, fue elegido y
consagrado arzobispo de York. Algún tiempo después, el primado san Teodoro de
Canterbury entendió que la elección había sido irregular, y así se lo hizo
saber a Ceada; éste lo aceptó con humildad y se retiró a su monasterio. Visto
su comportamiento, Teodoro lo nombró obispo de Mercia, sede que luego pasó a
Lichfield, donde murió el año 672. Ejerció su ministerio armonizando la vida
pastoral y la monástica, a ejemplo de los Padres antiguos.
SOURCE : https://www.franciscanos.org/agnofranciscano/m03/dia0302.html
Voir aussi : http://orthodoxwiki.org/Chad_of_Lichfield