Rare Learning

‘In this history it shall appear in what faith your noble Realme was christened…, your highness shall see in how many and weighty points the pretend reformers of the Church in your Grace’s dominion have departed from the pattern of that sound and catholic faith planted first among Englishmen,… and described truly and sincerely by Venerable Bede so called in all Christendom for his passing virtue and rare learning, the author of this history’.

from the first English preface to The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 731
by St Bede the Venerable, c.672-735

The preface above, addressed to Elizabeth I, was written in 1565 by Thomas Stapleton, a Catholic in exile, who was the first to translate Bede’s work into English.

O God, who hast caused thy Church to shine with the learning of blessed Bede, thy Confessor and Doctor: mercifully grant that we thy servants may ever be enlightened by his wisdom, and holpen for his merits’ sake; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. - Divine Worship: The Missal.