Main day of commemoration is
6th September
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/1286
Died in Cumberland, 681. This is another of those problematic saints,
mixing fact and fiction and, perhaps, the stories of more than one
person of the same name. One Bega is Irish; the other Anglo-Saxon. As
always, there appears to be some basis for the stories, but it is
impossible to sort or determine to whom each element of the story
relates. So, I give you what each of the sources has said.
The Irish maiden Saint Bega, in legend a princess, fled on the eve of
her marriage to a son of the king of Norway with a miraculous bracelet
presented by an angel as a token of her betrothal to the Lord Jesus
Christ. She was miraculously transported across the Irish Sea to
Cumberland, England.
She lived as a hermit for a while but on the advice of King Saint Oswald
(f.d. August 9), she received the veil from Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
(f.d. August 31). Thereafter she founded a convent on the promontory of
Saint Bee's Head (Copeland), in Cumberland, which flourished for 900
years with grants from Kings Saint Oswald, Saint Oswin (f.d. August 20),
and others. As an abbess, she was venerated for her aid to the poor and
the oppressed. The abbey still perpetuates her memory, as does also the
name of the village, Kilbees, in Scotland.
Two other saints of the same name are mentioned by hagiographers in
Yorkshire and an abbess at Kilbees. An Anglo-Saxon nun, called Heiu or
Begu, was also professed by Saint Aidan. According to Saint Bede (f.d.
May 25), she abdicated her abbacy of Hartlepool Abbey in favour of the
royal princess Saint Hilda (f.d. November 17). He also notes that while
Begu was novice mistress in another convent, she saw a vision of her
beloved Hilda, surrounded by heavenly light, ascend to heaven as the
bells tolled to call the sisters to prayer. The community was
immediately gathered in the chapel to pray for the repose of Hilda's
soul. The following morning messengers arrived was the news of the
death of the abbess of Whitby.
About 1125, the monks of Whitby sought relics to replace those of Hilda,
who had been translated to Glastonbury (they possessed those of Saint
Caedmon (f.d. February 11), but few were interested in him). Through a
revelation, a sarcophagus was found at Harkness with the inscription
"Hoc est sepulchrum Begu" and its contents transferred to Whitby, where
miracles were reported.
The origin of the name of the village of Kilbees and headland on the
coast of Cumberland is a matter of uncertainty. It seems more likely
that they are named after the Irish Bega than after either of the two
7th century Northumbrian nuns, Begu and Heiu, mentioned by Bede. There
is a medieval legend that oaths sworn on her bracelet were accepted
without further question
(
Attwater,
Benedictines,
D'Arcy,
Encyclopaedia,
Farmer,
Montague,
Moran).
********************************************************
Through the intercessions of St Bee and of all the Saints of Britain,
Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us!
********************************************************
The village of Saint Bees
http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/St._Bees/St._Bees.php
A book to read about Saint Bee:--
"CREDO" by Melvyn Bragg
Two reviews:
alan.davies@... , August 14, 1997
Big, sweeping historical epic by a superior, literate writer
This is a huge book (780 pages in paperback) which sprawls across
England and Ireland circa 650AD. It is a highly literate (Bragg is a
prominent UK arts broadcaster) fictional exploration of Saint Bega and
other real life characters set against the religion and politics of the
time [and the key players at the Synod of Whitby.] It is very readable
with plenty of action,
believable characters and fascinating historical observation. It is
however a big novel so strengthen those wrist muscles first!.
simonfunnell@... from London, England , July 11, 1999
7th century Britain's way of life is under attack...
Melvyn Bragg's Credo is astonishing. It is so well researched and so
well written that the characters live in your head long after you have
closed the pages for the last time.
It's a classical battle; between the Pagans and the Christians, and
between the Christian Celts and the Christian Catholics, set in a
violent and turbulent period of history.
This book has been reprinted as "The Sword and The Miracle", but is also
available as "Credo."