Extract from the "Life" of St. Cuthbert

The following extract records Cuthbert's settling at Inner Farne. One can decipher some elements found generally in the ascetic and missionary tradition of the Church (see the introductory educidations in the extracts from the "Life" of St. Columba). The settling of British ascetics on distant and barren islands was the equivalent to the Egyptian and Syrian monks going to the desert. It was not only about a movement of personal isolation and meditation, but for an initiative primarily of a missionary character; the ascetics were releasing the creation by the slavery to the demons and often transformed that sharpness of nature to an earthly paradise.

The extract is part of the "Ecclesiastical History" by the English historian, St. Bede (673-735), the writing of which was completed forty-four years after the passing away of Cuthbert. It comes from the book "Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People" (English translation, from the Latin original, by Leo-Sherley and R. E. Latham), Penguin Books, London 1990, p. 258.

Extract from the "Life"

When he was about to set sail (from Lindisfarne) to the island (Inner Farne), he assured his brothers (of his monastery):

-"If God's Grace gives me the strength to live on this place with the labor of my hands, I will gladly remain there; but if things don't turn out this way, then, God willing, I will soon come back to you."

At that time, the island didn't have any water, corn or trees; evil spirits inhabited it, thus making it extremely inappropriate for human residence. But when the man of God arrived, he ordered the evil spirits to leave and the island became somewhat habitable. After the expulsion of those hostile forces, the brothers helped him build a little house, surrounded by a ditch, as well as some primary buildings, like a hall of prayer and a guesthouse. He then asked the brothers to dig a well in the guesthouse's floor, even though the ground was hard and rocky and seemed as if there was no hope of finding a vein of water. But the brothers did as they were told and with the faith and prayers of the servant of God, the well was found full of water the following day. This spring still offers graciously the heavensent generosity to those that reach that place.

Cuthbert also asked them to bring him agricultural tools and wheat. But although he had prepared the soil and sowed at the right season, when summer came no ears of wheat, not even a single leaf came out. So, when his brothers did their standard visit, he asked them to bring him barley, in case the nature of the soil and the laws of the divine Gift giver demanded that such a seed be sown. He planted it on the same soil as soon as they brought him that, that is, after the right time, when there was no hope of it growing. Yet, a rich crop sprouted and gave the man of God the desirable capability of self-preservation by his own labor.