Historical setting: 589 C.E. Traveling to Châlons
So now we are a great procession of cow, donkey and cart, followed by four fully armored servants of the Bishop of Rome on fine horses, all laden with swords and shields and horse covers of rich silks, prepared to deliver a message to the king of Burgundy and all those other holy bishops along the way. I’ve noticed, when someone approaches us on the road from another direction, these four horsemen fall much further back behind us so not to be mistaken for our guards. Colleen believes God sent them to guard us. After-all, on this road there could be robbers lurking to empty a well-laden cart and take our cow. And what-if some father of a starving family did rob us and capture our cow and bag of oats? What treasure is ours that can allow us to thrive in this narrow circumstance between enough and excess?
Thank you God for enough and for safe journey. We’ve reached Châlons, well-guarded, or maybe just followed after.
I point the envoy to the palace where the king resides and we go on to the basilica. In just these few months the workers have built very discernible walls and roof for a monastery.
“Father Felix, good to see you again; this building project is coming along so well! You’ve had a busy summer.”
And Father Felix looks at the donkey cart at the rail and the cow, and now two women, not just one, and Ana has loosened her tunic sash a bit.
He answers, “And you have also had a busy summer, I see. Many things change.”
“When we were here before the king was preparing a message for us to take on to Father Columbanus. So we’ve come to learn if we are still needed for this task.”
“Yes, that message from the king to the father has taken a form that is more than you alone can deliver. Guntram thought Father Columbanus would make good use of a more intact Roman ruin in the King’s hunting grounds; it’s in the foothills of the Vosges called Luxovium. Do you know of it?”
“No, not at all.”
“It is said to be an easy day’s walk from Annegray. He wants the father to move to a better accommodation for his community maybe so he won’t be getting all these complaints. He was going to make a plan and send you with the simple message of that idea, but now…”
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 