January 9 | Saint Adrian of Canterbury

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine leaving everything you know behind. Imagine starting your life under the hot sun of North Africa and ending it on the rainy, cold island of Great Britain. Today, we are talking about a man who was offered one of the most powerful jobs in the world and said, no thanks, I'm not worthy.

We are talking about an educator, a traveler, and a legend who, believe it or not, is the go-to guy when you are having trouble with your teachers, St. Adrian of Canterbury. Our story begins in North Africa, where Adrian became a monk early in his life and eventually moved across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, where he became the abbot of Nerida.

There, he catches the attention of the most important person in the church at the time. Pope Vitalian. The Pope has a problem. He needs a new Archbishop of Canterbury, the top religious job in all of England. Now, if the Pope offers you a promotion, usually you take it. It's a big deal. But this is where Adrian's story gets dramatic. He didn't want the power. The records tell us that Adrian initially refused, considering himself unworthy of the position. Imagine having that kind of humility.

But the Pope wasn't going to let Adrian off the hook that easily. The Pope eventually found another man named Theodore to be the Archbishop. However, the Pope had a condition that Adrian accompany Theodore to his post as an advisor. So, the two of them set off for England.

Once they arrived, Theodore didn't just let Adrian sit around. He appointed Adrian to be the abbot of a monastery that had been originally founded by the famous St. Augustine. Adrian also traveled with Theodore all around the archdiocese. Think of him as the ultimate wingman of the church. He was the guy Theodore turned to when things got tough, and they had a lot of work to do.

At this time, the church in England was a bit messy, with different traditions clashing with one another. Adrian was instrumental in fixing this. He helped create a cohesive church between the Anglo-Saxon church traditions and those of Rome. Basically, he was a bridge builder between different cultures. But Adrian wasn't just an advisor. As we noted, he was a teacher. He established a flourishing monastic school, and under his leadership, his monastery became a major center of learning. He believed in education, in reading, and in training the next generation.

He spent the rest of his life pouring his energy into that school and the church in Kent, England, where he eventually died on January 9th in the year 710. But the story doesn't end with his death. Later on, when his tomb was opened, his body was found incorrupt.

That means his body hadn't decayed, which is a sign of immense holiness in church tradition. Saint Adrian is the patron saint of Libya and students. St. Adrian knew his strengths, and he knew how to help others shine. He wasn't the archbishop, but he was the advisor the archbishop needed.

This week, instead of trying to be the center of attention or the boss of your friend group, try to be the advisor. Be the person who helps your friends make good choices. And, of course, if you are having a rough time in math or English class this week, maybe say a quick prayer to St. Adrian. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.