Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains
A common cottage tucked away in a wilderness is a good place for two saintly Christian leaders to find a secret peace away from a listening world. Brother Servant and I are witnesses to this, but we have no scribe among us to tell it more broadly.
Bishop Felix tells of his visit to Rome and his meeting with Pope Gregory. “When I told him of the variety of Christian communities of Gaul it sparked his interest. Some years ago, not long after this pope had been installed in Rome, he opened up channels of communication to distant lands, like Gaul, considering these far stretches of the ancient empire of Rome as his see.[Footnote] His project is to extend the borders of the Roman church.”
“Really,” interjects the Father, “I assumed he had so much to deal with in saving Rome from the invading hordes of Arians, the Lombards, and all the other barbarian heretics since there is no longer a Roman army. Then he also had a plague at his doorstep when he came into power.”
“He was said to have converted the barbarians. At least they accepted the Creed. He has a purpose of the salvation of the whole world, as he has taken to heart the instructions of the Apostles. The Pope asked me about the churches here, and particularly about the monasteries that are being established with the Celtic Rule. So of course, I told him about your work and King Guntram’s support for our work here in Gaul.”
Father Columbanus asked, “Do you think our Papa understood that I came to this foreign land, a simple pilgrim, seeking a peaceful refuge in a wilderness? Or is his measure of good work only contingent on great numbers of people flocking to the community?”
“He was a monk himself. He may even regret being called away from his private contemplations. So, I heard no distinction of successes, only that he is deeply concerned with reports that the bishops of Gaul display what he calls, ‘spiritual immaturity’.”
“I told him you were doing God’s work here, and it was widely received because the people are longing for the Holy Triune on earth. And I told him that bishops in this land have great temporal power. He wanted to know why one such as I has a following, even though I was not a bishop.”
“That was a concern of the Pope?” asks the Father.
“Oh, very much so.” Bishop Felix answers.
“What did you tell him?”
[Footnote] Demacopoulos, George E. Gregory the Great: ascetic, Pastor, and first man of Rome. Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 2015. p.141
(Continues Tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 