Saint Egbert of Rathemigisi

Biography

Saint Egbert of Rathemigisi, also known as Egbert of Iona, Egbert of Lindisfarne, Egbert of Northumbria, Egbert of Ripon, and Ecgberht of... was born around 639 in Northumbria, England. He hailed from a noble family and later became a Benedictine monk at the renowned monastery of Lindisfarne. During his time in Lindisfarne, Saint Egbert worked tirelessly to prevent King Egfrith from invading Ireland in 684, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Nevertheless, he did not lose hope and continued his religious studies at Rathmelsigi monastery in Ireland, which is now known as Mellifont in County Louth. Following his studies, he served as a teacher to newly ordained brothers. At one point, Saint Egbert fell seriously ill with a plague. Fearing the prospect of death before having the opportunity to repent fully, he fervently prayed for a longer life. In response to his prayer, he vowed to live in exile and never return to England. Desiring to bring the message of Christianity to the pagans of Friesland, Saint Egbert initially wished to go on foreign missions himself. However, in 688, he received a vision from Saint Boisil, instructing him to work towards reforming monastic life. Following this divine directive, Saint Egbert dedicated himself to this task. He traveled extensively as a wandering bishop, undertaking various missionary endeavors. One of his significant contributions was sending fellow saints, Wigbert, Willibrord of Echternach, and other missionaries to evangelize the pagans in Friesland. Despite his desire to go on foreign missions, Saint Egbert was patient and obedient to the divine plan. In 716, he finally accepted the assignment to bring about reform and traveled to Iona, an island off the coast of Scotland. There, he encountered monastic communities following the Rule of Saint Columba. For the next thirteen years, Saint Egbert committed himself to gently and prayerfully convincing the monks at Iona to embrace Roman customs and practices. One particular area of focus was the method of calculating the date of Easter, which had caused significant controversy at the time. Saint Egbert's dedication and persuasion eventually won over the monks, and they adopted the Roman method of computing Easter. It is said that he possessed a gentle and humble spirit throughout these efforts, earning the respect and trust of those he encountered. Tragically, Saint Egbert's life came to an end immediately following the celebration of Easter Mass. He died on April 24, 729, at the island of Iona, Scotland, due to natural causes. Saint Egbert of Rathemigisi remains an important figure in the history of the Catholic Church, renowned for his missionary work, dedication to monastic reform, and successful introduction of Roman customs at Iona. Despite never achieving his initial desire to embark on foreign missions, his efforts to bring about unity and spiritual renewal within the monastic community left a lasting impact. Saint Egbert's feast day is celebrated on April 24, and although he is not currently recognized as the patron saint of any specific cause, his legacy continues to inspire and guide believers today.