The Apostle to the North

In the 6th Century, Saint Columbanus did much to iniate the conversion of the Franks, which was fueled by the baptism of Clovis in the 4th. Saint Boniface continued this missionary work with the Germans. These two greats did not talk with the Saxons ( whose  conversion process was discussed yesterday) nor with the Nordic people. Credit cannot be given enough to the monastics for this growth. In the 9th Century ( 800s), Christianity reached these groups, primarily through the work of Saint Ansgar. Ansgar, whose mother died early in his life, was sent to the monastary of the venerable Corbie Abbey. Corbie was noted for its library and Scriptorum, and its abbot had the right to mint coins. The Abbey was closed under the dastardly French Revolution, and it's library moved. I am attaching a link to the life of Ansgar, as well as a picture of the still-standing abbey church. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansgar

de Capitulatio de Partibus Saxonae

Greetings, 

Many gloss of the First Millennium of Christian Europe in deference to a study of the High Middle Ages ( 1100-1300). The High Middle Ages were indeed glorious, as it saw the Christianization of Aristotle, as well as the re-implimentation in Western Europe of a proper understanding of The Sciences and The Arts. 

Charlemagne very well could have reunited East and West, as a marriage was sought between the first emperor of the West ( Charlemagne) and Irene, Empress of the East. The talks broke, as well they should have if authentic matrimonal love did not exist between the two. This is an aside. Charlemagne's efforts to defeat The Saxons (760s-804) also saw a forced conversion of that people to Christianity. This was codified in the "Capitulatio de Partibus Saxoniae." Saxons were to convert; if they did not, death was the consequence. Alcuin, the great monk and cleric of Charlemagne's court, strongly fought against this action when it came time to battle the Avars. This is all evidenced in Richard Fletcher's book concerning the conversion of Western Europe. 

Pope Benedict XVI noted the teachings of Christianity are suggestions. The freedom to act according to one's conscience not only amplifies the inherent dignity of each human because he/she is a human, but also is present in the very Paschal ( Greek for " saving") actions of Christ. In the Garden, He sweeted blood because He did not want to die. He made the choice: " Fiat voluntatas Tua," or " Thy will be done." Holy Alcuin, pray for us.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitulatio_de_partibus_Saxoniae

Libri Carolini

Libri Carolini - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libri_Carolini

The Iconoclast Contresversy cannot be overlooked for several reasons. Firstly, the Holy Doctrine that images can and should be venerated gives conclusion to the Eastern Orthodox view that all that is needed for full Divine Revelation to Man is contained within the Seven Eccumenical Councils. Secondly, the Iconoclast debate ( 700s-900s) laid the framework a for Ceasaro-Papist governance ( bamm Charlemagne was crowned Emporor of the West, and it started, lol) in Western Europe ( Cesaro-Papists viewed the Pope's role was to pray and the Emperor's role was to achieve The Church's Mission on Earth). The Eastern Roman Empire was always this way. #gobyzantinelife

The Libri Carolini was Charlemagne's response to Second Nicea ( where Saint  Theodora declared the above- mentioned Iconoclasm "anathema sit", lol."). In it, he said, " No", to Second Nicea and "No" to Rome, who had already agreed with Theodora in the East. This info is valuable because many who study European History today assume that, " Oh, Rome has always governed Western European Theology." No, the Franks quickly set up a life where they were to make their own doctrine, lol. And this actually congrues more with traditional teaching on the degree of power a bishop holds- he is seen as the " Corporate Sole" of The Diocese.

So, France in the 800s was fiercely Iconoclast. Rome was not. The Libri Carolini, according to Dr. John Rao, contain a lot of negative things about Greek-speaking Christians. This, is a beginning of the Great Schism, sadly. It was so, so not about The Filoque, I agrue. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_17?ie=UTF8&n=283155&k=a+love+life+lived+by+josh+hart&sprefix=A+Love+Life+Lived

Greetings Windows Live Viewers

 

I am a former Seminarian and candidate for Monastic Life at Subiaco Abbey. I invite you to check out my blog at  http://pistismysterion.blogspot.com/

May God bless you richly now and always.

Readings, Reflection, and link to Morning Prayer for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Podcast of today's readings ( just scroll down and click on Fe. 16):http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm

Watch a brief reflection on today's readings :http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm

Join me at 10:30 AM for Morning Prayer. It is shown on a Livestream channel linked below. Peace, :).
 

A Few Words, Ya'll!! :)

             The Feast of Corpus Christi aids in comprehension of the sacredness of the family, as all feasts, solemnities, prayers, actions, and sacraments should do.  This is because all these actions and mechanisms point to the life death and resurrection of Christ. Sacred Scripture and Tradition help us see how the official celebration of the Body and Blood of our Lord relates to the Holy Family. We begin with God saving his chosen ones in Egypt from Pharaoh.  Here the first Passover from death to life occurred; God asked his families to sacrifice one lamb. Focus here is given to what was done with the blood of the Passover lamb: it was placed on the doorposts of the houses of the children of Israel as an identifying mark. And in Jewish homes throughout the world today, too, the blood of the lamb is symbolically blessed and spiritually placed on doors.  

Blood scripturally symbolizes life; when the Israelites enslaved in Egypt placed blood on their doorposts, they placed life on their doorposts. In Judah, priests poured the blood of animals brought as thanksgiving offerings at the foot of the altar. Thus they remembered, thanked, and implored God to continue to give his life-giving grace. Here, in a study of the history of humanity’s salvation, we observe in the Temple the same life giving element, blood, that we observe protecting the homes of the Israelites whom participated in the first Passover.  God’s life giving grace is perhaps seen easily in the sanctuary. The same life-giving grace nourishing and protecting the Church and its Jewish brothers and sisters is the same grace nourishing and protecting our homes.