Bishop (d. ca. 656)
His life
+ Ithamar (or Ythamar) was consecrated as bishop of Rochester by Honorius, the archbishop of Canterbury. He was the first Anglo-Saxon to be consecrated as a bishop.
+ As bishop, Ithamar later consecrated Deusdedit as archbishop of Canterbury in 655.
+ Although little else is known of his life or pastoral service, Ithamar was honored as a saint immediately after his death around the year 656. His remains were enshrined in Rochester Cathedral. An account of the miracles recorded at his shrine is housed in Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University.
For prayer and reflection
“Priest of the Most High God and mirror of goodness, you were a good shepherd to your people and pleasing to the Lord.”—from the Common of Pastors in the Liturgy of the Hours
For prayer and reflection
Lord God, who graciously imbued blessed Ithamar with heavenly doctrine, grant, through his intercession, that we may keep that same teaching faithfully and express it in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Pastors—For a Bishop)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
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