Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier
The king’s teacher, Alcuin, is considering his response to Bishop Higbald particularly asking what he meant by “sins of Lindisfarne.” The bishop referred to “sins” as though the Viking Raid was God’s retribution for the monastery’s sins.
Alcuin says, “It seems unlikely the sins were the peaceful nature of any monastery, though that did leave the monks unarmed and vulnerable. No, I think he was referring to a specific incident that he assumes I know all about. I do not. So, I ask, do you know of any such incident?”
“I was only there a short time to help bury the dead… But now, as I recall, Brother Ealdwin did mention something very dark, as though it was a sin.”
“What?”
“When I started to prepare the graves in the burial grounds for monks, Brother Ealdwin stopped me, suggesting we find another area away from a recent burial place.”
“Why?”
“Apparently the monastery became caught up in a political issue. He said a novice died and was buried in that place and a controversy arose. This fellow had come to the monastery seeking tonsure following the death of a Northumbrian king.”
“Is this related to a long running rebellion and the regicide of King Aelred by a group of rebels?”
“Apparently so. This man was one of the rebels. Brother Eldwin said this fellow brought a terrible burden of conscience, but before he accepted the holy orders and even as he was asking for penance, he killed himself. The abbot, since murdered in the Viking raid, took pity on this man because he had begged for mercy. There was an on-going debate about the burial of such a sinner among the monks. The bishop handled the situation acknowledging the abbot’s mercy and recognizing God who is love. But, Brother Ealdwin said, the political supporters of the king were still critical of the bishop for leniency given in the burial of this rebel. Some who were secular patrons of the monastery wouldn’t let this issue go.”
Alcuin says, “So, apparently the bishop finds these political supporters of Aelred are using the sin of regicide and one repentant but unpardonable suicide to smudge the whole community and the earth it stands on, now continually corrupted in sin.”
“Yes. It put the bishop in a hard place.” I personally never appreciated the need for bishops, but here, a bishop in his fine silks and two-pointed hat, one of earth and the other heaven, bears the incongruence between omnipotence and omniscience — power and love.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 