Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Chapter 27

Bede writes that Augustine went to Arles to be consecrated archbishop of Canterbury by the Archbishop Elutherius who had a longstanding relationship with Rome. However, in the footnote, it is stated that he was probably consecrated bishop before he went to Kent.

Augustine then sends Lawrence and Peter to Pope Gregory in Rome along with some questions about how matters are to be handled. Bede consolidates Augustine’s questions and Pope Gregory’s replies. There are 9 topics:

1. How should bishops live with their clergy and how should donations be shared/divided?

2. Reconciling customs of different churches – e.g., Roman vs. Gaulish churches. Gregory said that it is okay to maintain various local customs that are not part of the Roman church.

3. Punishment for those who rob the church. Gregory’s answer – it depends on circumstances. Harsh punishment, if necessary, meted be done out of love.

4. Marriage between two brothers and two sisters is okay.

5. Marriage between kindred is frowned upon. No grandfather rule for those who convert; if they are already married, they must abstain from intimate relationship. If they abstain, they may take communion.

6. Can a person be made bishop without other bishops to witness the event. Making of a bishop is akin to a marriage and should be celebrated and witnessed.

7. How to deal with bishops in Gaul and Britain. Augustine has no jurisdiction over Gaulish bishops, but Augustine can influence those in Britain.

8. On the topic of women, their menstrual cycles, sex and giving birth.

9. Communion, priests and illicit dreams. Pope Gregory compares it to a 3 step process, “suggestion, pleasure, and consent.”

Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Chapter 26

Augustine and his men begin to chant, sing, say mass and preach in the church of St. Martin which was built by the Romans before they left Britain. St. Martin is significant because Queen Bertha, King Aethelberht's Christian wife, prayed here. Bede states that the simplicity and piety of Augustine and the men who followed him inspired many to convert to the their faith, including King Aethelberht. Although the King supports their cause and belief, he does not force his people to convert.

The Church of St. Martin

I wonder if Queen Bertha suggested that they preach here. For a church frequented by a royal person, it is very unassuming and simple.

The following site has some nice pictures of the stained glass windows depicting the Queen, King, St. Martin and Augustine. The pictures can be found by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page:

http://www.saintsandstones.net/saints-stmartinscanterbury-journey.htm

Bede: The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Chapter 25

I was reading Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People to learn more about early English medieval history and thought that it might be a good idea to post summaries of what I read and any thoughts I might have about it in my blog. Since I wrote a summary first for chapter 25, I'll start here.

Chapter 25

Saint Augustine and 40 of the men who came from Rome with him arrive on the island of Thanet with Frankish interpreters. He sends messengers to King Aethelberht of Kent to announce that he has come to spread the word about Roman Christianity. As Aethelberht figures out what he should do with them, they are treated well. His Frankish wife, Bertha, was a Christian, so Christianity was not an alien religion to him and perhaps he was courteous to them because of his wife. [What religion did Aethelberht follow? And his people? Obviously they did not all follow Christianity, at least not the type preached in Rome.]

However, when it is time to meet them, he meets them outdoors for fear that "if they practised any magic art, they might deceive him and get the better of him." They preach to him and his men, but Aethelberht does not convert nor force his people to convert as the religion is "new to us and doubtful" and they have their own longstanding religious beliefs.  He believes that they are good people though and gives them a place to live and preach in Canterbury, a major city in his realm.

It is interesting that possibility for magic was taken seriously. Since he is not already a Christian, this shows that superstitious beliefs were accepted even by men of importance and power even before the arrival of Christianity. Many seem to believe that the Christianity made people superstitious and this helps to show that this is not the case.

This chapter also shows that image and music were used by Christians as a way to publicly demonstrate their faith:

"they approached the city in accordance with their custom carrying the holy cross and the image of our great King and Lord, Jesus Christ, they sang this litany in unison"

"bearing as their standard a silver cross and the image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a panel. They changed litanies and uttered prayers to the Lord for their own eternal salvation and the salvation of those for whom and to whom they had come."

Religious statues, images and music are typically found within the walls of a church, but in both instances above, they are used outside of the church. [In what other religions were religion and music popular?]