Hilda

Caedmon was a common laborer whose job was taking care of the animals at Whitby Abbey in England. Monks at the abbey sang after dinner for recreation and took turns leading the brothers in singing. Caedmon didn’t know the songs and couldn’t carry a tune, so he left before the singing started. He fell asleep in the stable and was approached by a man in his dream who told him, “Caedmon, sing me something.” Caedmon responded, “I cannot sing, and for that reason, I left the banquet hall and came here because I did not know how to sing.” The man was not deterred, “Nevertheless, you can sing for me.” “What shall I sing?” Caedmon asked. “Sing of creation,” the man said. At once, Caedmon began to sing of creation, giving praise to God. He sang until he awoke from his dream, the song still replaying in his mind. He told the foreman about it, who took him to Hilda (614-680), leader of an abbey for both men and women. She listened to the song and discerned it to be a true gift from God. She invited him to take monastic vows and provided for his education. She encouraged him to develop his gift of creating songs to praise God. Caedmon is remembered today as England’s first poet. Hilda invested prodigious amounts of time and energy to provide for the education and spiritual formation of nuns and monks who lived at her monastery. No less than five bishops came from her abbey. She was regularly referred to as a spiritual “mother” by people of all social classes. She gained such a reputation for wisdom that kings and commoners alike sought her counsel. A prayer attributed to Hilda leads us to pray: