Coffee & Saints

Born: Unknown – North Africa
Died: January 9, 710 AD, Canterbury, United Kingdom

What I appreciate about St. Hadrian of Canterbury:
He brought the use of music into our Church services. As a music lover, I appreciate when music is part of the Mass. I have a deep appreciation for music and I often use song to help me to enter in to prayer.

Coffee Order:
Saint Hadrian seems like a no-fuss, no frills, kind of guy to me. Therefore, I picture him wanting plain black coffee.

The reality is that it can be very difficult for those of us living in the 21^st century to find a connection with someone who lived so long ago. This is natural; after all, they would have had a very different life experience from us. However, I also believe that they would still be able to understand us in the most basic human ways.

Personally, I think Saint Hadrian would choose a small, eccentric coffeeshop that is not too well known. I have an image in my mind of someone who would want to tell his story with little to no interference or distraction. He would want his listener to be focused on what he has to say.

He was an extremely intelligent man who was fond of literature. I can see him sitting in an armchair, ankle on knee, so that nothing is separating him from the person to whom he is speaking. As a teacher, he would have an eloquence with words, not darting around the subject matter. I think he would be direct, honest, and not exaggerate.

He was a no-fuss kind of guy; therefore, I picture him ordering a plain black coffee. I do not think he would have needed a frilly cup of java to satiate his pallet. Instead, he would appreciate coffee in its simplest form.

Hadrian (also called Adrian) fostered a deep devotion to Scripture – this is not surprising as he was a literature buff. Although we do not have historical context about his discernment process, we do know that he entered the monastic life. I wish that I knew more about his vocation and his experience of being called by God to serve in this way.

He was an African by birth and the Church believes that he was from what is now Libya. Historians assume that it was due to the Arab invasion of 644 that our Saint fled his homeland and found refuge in Italy. I cannot imagine what it must have felt like to be forced from my country. He must have been filled with so many emotions. He had to leave behind everything he knew and the people he loved. Time was of the essence – did he even have time to pack? Did he travel with only the clothes on his back? Did he get to say goodbye? Were his family members and close friends still alive? What was his journey like?

I can picture Hadrian wiping a tear as he speaks of this difficult time. Simply because one becomes a Saint does not mean that they always must view the past with joy. I feel in my heart that this man, from so long ago in our Church history, would understand sadness and loss just the same as those of us living today. These emotions transcend all cultural and language barriers.

It was probably due to his devotion and deep understanding of the scriptures that he was assigned as the abbot of a monastery close to Naples. Not only was he well-read, Saint Hadrian was also an excellent teacher and scholar. His natural gifts are what got him noticed. He was even asked to be the pope’s councilor! What an honor for this man who had to leave so much behind and begin his life anew. Was there fear or nerves? Did he feel up to the task? These are some of the questions I long to ask him. I want to see his facial expression, hear the inflections in his voice, as he shares about his experiences.

Great Saints of the Church have something in common that we can all learn from: the gift of humility. Saint Hadrian was approached by Pope Vitalian and given the opportunity to be the Archbishop of Canterbury. This would have given him major street cred! After all, it was a position of power. This thought had to have been enticing. He had been working so hard – reading, writing, and teaching. And now he was being given an incredible chance to lead more.

Not only did Hadrian politely decline the offer, but he also suggested his friend Theodore for the position. He gave up what could have been a prosperous life, and instead encouraged his friend to enter the spotlight. For me, I think this friend must have been absolutely honored to have received this referral from someone who was so close to the Pope.

True humility, when we encounter it, is beautiful. It is something that we do not forget. For these friends, I hope that this strengthened their bond. I can picture Hadrian sharing about Theodore with fondness, as I do when I share about my own friends. A true friend feels joy when the other succeeds. I picture them sharing a joyous hug or slap on the back, excitement in their faces.

The Pope agreed to appoint Theodore as Archbishop but called Hadrian to accompany Theodore to Canterbury. Upon their arrival, Theodore appointed Hadrian as the abbot of the monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He was also given the privilege to assist his friend in the administration of the diocese and the two founded a school. Through their journey, the two friends received a large number of students to teach, and they received an international reputation. Moreover, a student from that very school who was one of Hadrian’s pupils – named Aldhelm – became a Saint himself! As a youth minister by trade, there is nothing quite like the joy of witnessing a teenager come to understand the Church in a new and profound way. It is a beautiful experience when I see a young person in the program “get it”! Therefore, I can picture the elation on this Saint’s face as he recounts to me how proud he was of the young man who would also be welcomed into the Church Triumphant.

God used Hadrian in so many ways, asking big things of this man from North Africa. He was called away from everything he once knew and given the task of serving the Church in a different country. As a teacher, he was also given the challenge of helping to form the young people into disciples. The Lord was clearly present in this ministry as the school grew and people fell even more deeply in love with the Catholic faith. He was also a prominent figure in the spread of using music in the liturgy, which was not a normal concept for the Church at that time. Hadrian had an appreciate for the Saints and helped to bring several Italian Saints into the calendar so their feast days were celebrated!

Hadrian died in 710 and his body was buried in his monastery. In 1091, his remains were rediscovered during a renovation and they were found incorrupt! This is a true miracle as it means that his body was not experiencing normal decay even after such a long time. Word spread, and people flocked to his tomb where many miracles took place.

If I ever had the opportunity to sit with Saint Hadrian, I would tell him how much I admire his trust in the Lord. I cannot imagine that it would have been easy for him to leave everything behind and begin a new life; however, I know that he would have a smile on his face as he reminded me how God always takes care of everything. Sometimes when we follow the Lord’s plan it can feel extremely difficult. It is when we look back, really seeing how far we have come, that we see the ways that God worked through it all. As this Saint came to the end of his life, I am quite certain that he was in awe of how the Lord used him in every circumstance to bring more people to the kingdom of God!

Prayer:
Saint Hadrian, we ask for your intercession. As a teacher, you needed patience and perseverance as you led young minds to open themselves up and realize the presence of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. Pray for us to open our hearts and minds to how the Lord is currently working in our lives. When we face hardships, may we rely on the strength of the Lord; and may we have the wisdom to look back at our lives and see the ways that the Lord was working. Amen.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this Saint! I truly enjoyed bringing him to our modern times in the hopes of helping people to relate to him more. The artwork above was created using AI and my own imagination – this is how I picture what it would be like to sit with him in a coffeeshop today. He died as an older man, but I chose to have him just a little bit younger for the photo. I would love for you to share your own thoughts in the comments. Had you heard of Saint Hadrian of Canterbury before? How do you picture him? What do you think he would have ordered at a coffee shop? Let me know below!

Cheers! ☕
Maggie