father's sheep. It happened one night, that, while he was watching in
prayer, near his flock, according to his custom, he saw the soul of St.
Aidan carried up to heaven by angels, at the very instant that holy man
departed this life in the isle of Lindisfarne. Serious reflections on
the happiness of such a death determined the pious young man to repair,
without delay, to Mailros, where he put on the monastic habit, while
Eata was abbot, and St. Boisil prior. He studied the holy scriptures
under the latter, and in fervor surpassed all his brethren in every
monastic exercise. Eata being called to govern the new monastery of
Rippon, founded by king Alcfrid, he took with him St. Cuthbert, and
committed to him the care of entertaining strangers; which charge is
usually the most dangerous in a religious state. Cuthbert washed the
feet of others and served them with wonderful humility and meekness,
always remembering that Christ himself is served in his members. And he
was most careful that the functions of Martha should never impair his
spirit of recollection. When St. Wilfred was made abbot of Rippon, St.
Cuthbert returned with Eata to Mailros; and St. Boisil dying of the
great pestilence, in 664, he was chosen provost or prior in his place.

In this station, not content by word and example to form his monks to
perfect piety, be labored assiduously among the people to bring them off
from several heathenish customs and superstitious practices which still
obtained among them. For this purpose, says our venerable historian, he
often went out, sometimes on horseback, but oftener on foot, to preach
the way of life to such as were gone astray. Parochial churches being at
this time very scarce in the country, it was the custom for the country
people to flock about a priest or ecclesiastical person when he came
into any village, for the sake of his instructions; hearkening willingly
to his words, and more willingly practising the good lessons he taught
them. St. Cuthbert {626} excelled all others by a most persuasive and
moving eloquence; and such a brightness appeared in his angelical face
in delivering the word of God to the people, that none of them durst
conceal from him any part of their misbehavior, but all laid their
conscience open before him, and endeavored by his injunctions and
counsels to expiate the sins they had confessed, by worthy fruits of
penance. He chiefly visited those villages and hamlets at a distance,
which,