St Chad and the Invisible Choir
Chad, the seventh-century Bishop of Mercia, seemed to be making a lot of music for one man.
672
Chad, the seventh-century Bishop of Mercia, seemed to be making a lot of music for one man.
672
After St Chad was consecrated Bishop of Mercia in 669, he took up residence in Lichfield at a monastery of his own foundation, and soon people were coming from miles around for his advice and healing prayers. He also built himself a little private chapel, and spent many hours there alone.
BROTHER Owen was busy digging near Chad’s private oratory, when he heard the sound of many voices singing. That puzzled him: the Abbot, he knew, was praying alone, and everyone else away on errands. Moreover, the sound was coming from across fields to the southeast.
The voices, which had been growing louder, were suddenly muffled; now they definitely came from inside the chapel. Some thirty minutes passed, and then with a joyous fortissimo they burst through the roof, before fading on the breeze.
When Owen took the Abbot aside and asked about the singing, Chad revealed that angels had visited him, and would return in seven days to take him home.
A week later, a monk named Egbert, far away at the Irish monastery where Chad had once lived, stood watching the skies in wonder. For there was his old friend Chad, with Chad’s dear departed brother Cedd leading him by the hand, going up to heaven’s rest, amidst a flight of singing angels.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why did the sound of a choir surprise Owen?
He thought he and Chad were alone.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Owen heard a choir. He knew only Chad was near. Owen was puzzled.