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St. Cuthbert

Feast 03-20 · Canonized Pre-Congregation

Patron of

About

Cuthbert was born around 634 in Northumbria and became a monk at Melrose Abbey. He served as prior of Melrose and later of Lindisfarne, where he was known for his gentleness, his long walks among the people, and his deep life of prayer. He often withdrew to the small island of Inner Farne to pray alone.

Many stories tell of Cuthbert's closeness to animals. Otters are said to have warmed his feet with their breath after he stood praying in the cold sea, and birds and seals obeyed his word. He became bishop of Lindisfarne in 685 but returned to Farne to die as a hermit in 687.

Cuthbert's relics were carried across northern England for years before resting at Durham, where his shrine became a great place of pilgrimage. He is a patron of shepherds, sailors, and the natural world.

animals, pets, livestock, animal welfare, animal care, wildlife, farm animals, creatures, beasts, vets, animal rescue, shepherds, shepherd, sheep, shepherding, flock, tending sheep, sheep herding, pastoral, sheep farming, sheep keepers, flock keeping

Suggested prayer

O God, who gave Cuthbert a gentleness that drew even the wild creatures to him, grant through his intercession that shepherds and all who care for animals may tend Your creatures with love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sources

Other saints to pray to

For animals

For shepherds