Today we commemorate Bede the Venerable, Theologian. Bede was the last of the Early Church Fathers. Placed in a monastery at the age of seven, Bede rarely left his monastery home and devoted his life to teaching and writing. A prolific writer, Bede produced both histories and theological works — his commentaries are still used today. Bede’s most well-known disciple, Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on translating the Gospel of John at the time of his death. Bede is buried in Durham Cathedral.

Today we commemorate Esther. Esther, who is the heroine of the Biblical book that bears her name, became the queen of King Ahasuerus. Using her position of power, Esther was able to uncover a plot to exterminate her people and have the architect of that plot hanged, and his office filled by her uncle and guardian, Mordecai. Esther’s story reveals to us how God works to preserve His saints and to deliver them from evil.