It is the feast of St Aidan, an Irish monk in the Scottish monastery of Iona, who was called to become a missionary in northern England. That call came in the year 635, when the newly-crowned King Oswald of Northumbria recruited Aidan to re-establish Christianity in his kingdom. Aidan based himself on the island of Lindisfarne (above), just across the water from Oswald’s castle at Bamburgh, and spread the faith by walking from village to village, freeing slaves where he could, planting churches and monasteries, and training a new generation of missionary monks. He died today in 651.
John Bunyan, a tinker from Bedford, England, who began writing his best-loved book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, while he was in prison for preaching at unlawful religious meetings, died today in 1688. By then, his Progress had been in print for 10 years and had become a celebrated bestseller. He died in London, in the house of a friend, and was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb in Bunhill Fields, London’s burial ground for dissenters.
‘I see myself now at the end of my journey, my toilsome days are ended, I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon, for me. I have formerly lived by hear-say and faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him, in whose company I delight myself.’ John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
Today is a special day for Aristides of Athens, one of the first apologists of the early church. He wrote his ‘apology’ recommending the Christian faith (and having a go at other faiths) in about the year 125, addressing it to the Emperor Hadrian. Aristides is now a saint, and this is his day.
‘They allege also that Herakles got drunk and went mad and cut the throats of his own children, then he was consumed by fire and so died. Now how should he be a god, who was drunk and a slayer of children and burned to death? Or how will he come to the help of others, when he was unable to help himself?’ Apology of Aristides, explaining the deficiencies of the Greek gods
Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines, was born today in 1928. He was politically active during two people’s revolutions in Manila, one of which saw nuns and protestors marching together singing hymns and reciting the rosary. His active support for the 2001 revolution caused consternation in the Vatican, which is not a big fan of revolutions. He was a cardinal with a sense of humour, sometimes greeting visitors to his palace with the words, ‘Welcome to the house of Sin!’
Today in 1738, the hymn writer Charles Wesley, who was one of the leaders of Britain’s Methodist movement, visited Oxford and wrote in his Journal:
‘At the Society I read my sermon, “The Scripture hath concluded all are under sin,” and urged upon each my usual question, “Do you deserve to be damned?” Mrs. Piatt, with the utmost vehemence, cried out, “Yes; I do, I do!” I prayed that if God saw there any contrite soul, He would fulfil His promise of coming and making His abode with it. Again she broke out into strong cries, but of joy, not sorrow, being quite overpowered with the love of Christ. I asked her if she believed in Jesus. She answered in full assurance of faith. We sang and rejoiced over her (she still continued kneeling), joined in thanksgiving; but her voice was heard above ours.’ Charles Wesley, Journal
Image: Simon Jenkins