Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 793 C.E. The Christmas story is when the poor and weak are lifted up and the proud and powerful are cast down. It was the story Jesus was born into. And this too is that story. I take the bones of the near drown girl to the Reverend Mother of Monkwearmouth. SheContinue reading “#75.13 Tuesday, December 30, 2025”
Category Archives: Medieval
#75.12 Thursday, December 25, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Some rise early for the mass. At Monkwearmouth the antiphons will be sung by the women’s choir this morning for this feast day celebrating the Christ birth. The guards dressed as monks have their shift change at first light, so it isn’t just the monks stumbling through the Jarrow hallsContinue reading “#75.12 Thursday, December 25, 2025”
#75.11 Weds., December 24, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. The librarian, Brother Wilbert, said the sounds of the people’s celebration of the season escaped these guest quarters again and danced among the snows of the cold December night, then music-ed up and down the halls of the monks’ quarters sending shudders of worldly drunkenness throughout the holy chambers. Now,Continue reading “#75.11 Weds., December 24, 2025”
#75.10 Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Tonight, I hear the ruckus down the hall as the soldiers, incognito as monks, shift their vigils: two go out and two return with shivers, welcomed by the third pair ready with the ale and the songs of the Christ birth. Even this seasonal welcome with ale is a traditionContinue reading “#75.10 Tuesday, December 23, 2025”
#75.9 Thursday, December 18, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Librarian Wilbert and probably others too, found the night’s noise from the special “guests” annoying. “This is a sacred season. It is the Christ’s birth, and there those fellows are bearing down on us with all that Pagan noise. They might as well be Vikings for all the disruption.”Continue reading “#75.9 Thursday, December 18, 2025”
#75.8 Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Drinking songs of soldiers changes the music of this hall from arguments among novices to soldier’s seasonal songs enhanced with ale. Even those youngsters attempting chants with their changing and untrained voices are, to me, a worse disruption to my sleep than drinking songs. I oddly appreciate the change inContinue reading “#75.8 Wednesday, December 17, 2025”
#75.7 Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Winter is upon us, nearing the season of the solstice and I’ve chosen to stay here in the guest quarters at Jarrow. This is a double monastery, with the women’s community, called St. Peter, across the River Tyne on the River Wear. In that church often the worship is ledContinue reading “#75.7 Tuesday, December 16, 2025”
#75.6 Thursday, December 11, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. The King’s man, Ousbert, is also a lay visitor at Jarrow in the aftermath of the raid on Lindisfarne. Our purposes here are very different. I’m just looking for a history, but he’s looking for the vulnerabilities of coastal monasteries to make his recommendations to the king going forward. It’sContinue reading “#75.6 Thursday, December 11, 2025”
#75.5 Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. The King’s man Ousbert is making a plan to save these coastal monasteries from the fate of Lindisfarne. Ousbert is asking for details of the cause of the raid, and since I was there, he’s questioning me. “People who put their trust in saints to be all powerful areContinue reading “#75.5 Wednesday, December 10, 2025”
#75.4 Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. The Lindisfarne raid raised concern throughout the kingdoms for the safety of all of the coastal monasteries. Wilbert introduces me to Ousbert who serves the king as a military advisor. Ousbert has questions about the raid on Lindisfarne. We step out of the library hall, to talk more freely inContinue reading “#75.4 Tuesday, December 9, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 