August 31 -- St Aidan of Lindisfarne

"Augustine was the Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was the Apostle of the English." - Bishop Lightfoot



We mentioned St Aidan a few years ago,  including three or four paragraphs from  Mrs D'Arcy's Saints of Ireland, because St Aidan, apostle of the English though he be, was an Irish bishop on the Iona mission when he went to convert the English and the border Scots.  You can find that post here.  And wonder of wonders, the links in that post are still live.

A collect for St Aidan:

O loving God, Who dist call Thy servant Aidan from the peace of a cloister to re-establish the Christian  mission in northern England, and didst endow him with gentleness, simplicity and strength:  Grant, we beseech Thee, that we, following his example, may use what Thou hast given us for the relief of human need, and may persevere in commending the saving Gospel of Our Redeemer Jesus Christ; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Another collect formerly used in the Diocese of Agylle and the Isles:

O God, Who didst raise blessed Aidan Thy Confessor and Bishop to the glory of everlasting felicity; grant, we beseech Thee; that we Thy servants may through Thy mercy obtain in heaven those good things which he valiantly maintained and defended on earth. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.