Herbert of Derwentwater

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saint Herbert of Derwentwater (?-687) was a priest and hermit who lived on a small island in Derwentwater.

1 Biography
2 Veneration
3 In Literature
4 Sources and External links

[edit] Biography

Date of birth unknown; an anchorite of the seventh century, who dwelt for many years on the little island still known as St. Herbert's Isle, in the Lake of Derwentwater.

He was for long the close friend and disciple of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, whom he to visit in Lindisfarne every year for the purpose of receiving his direction in spiritual matters. In the year 686, hearing that his friend was visiting Carlisle for the purpose of giving the veil to Queen Eormenburg, he went to see him there, instead of at Lindisfarne as was usual. After they had spoken together, St. Cuthbert said, "Brother Herbert, tell to me now all that you have need to ask or speak, for never shall we see one another again in this world. For I know that the time of my decease is at hand." Then Herbert fell weeping at his feet and begged that St. Cuthbert would obtain for him the grace that they might both be admitted to praise God in heaven at the same time. And St. Cuthbert prayed and then made answer, "Rise, my brother, weep not, but rejoice that the mercy of God has granted our desire." And indeed Herbert, returning to his hermitage, fell ill of a long sickness, and, purified of his imperfections, passed to God on the very March 20, 687 on which St. Cuthbert died on Holy Island.

[edit] Veneration

Cuthbert's feast was by far the more popular of the two and Herbert was largely forgotten although St. Herbert's Island is still named after him.

In 1374, Thomas Appleby, Bishop of Carlisle, ordered the vicar of Crosthwaite to celebrate a sung Mass on St. Herbert's Isle each year on his feast, and granted forty days' indulgence to all who visited it on this day. Ruins of a circular stone building there may be connected with him. The Martyrology of Tallaght describes St. Herbert, like St. Cuthbert, as a Saxon. It is said that the remains of St. Herbert's chapel and cell may still be traced at the northern end of the island on which he lived. In 1374 Thomas Appleby, Bishop of Carlisle, granted an indulgence of forty days to all who, in honour of St. Herbert, visited the island in Derwentwater and were present at the Mass of St. Cuthbert to be sung annually by the Vicar of Crosthwaite.

His feast day is March 20.

[edit] In Literature

St Herbert appears under the name "Erebert" as a character in the mostly fictional book Credo about the life of a little known saint, St Bega, by Melvyn Bragg