Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Before Alcuin signs off, he offers his own personal and political act in response to this tragedy. The scholar adds, “I plan to go to him, [the king] and if I can then do anything for you about the boys who have been carried off by the pagans asContinue reading “#72.12, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025”
Category Archives: Medieval
#72.11, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The patrons and politicians, monks and pilgrims all expect to hear the scholar proclaim God’s side in the issue of the burial of a sinner among the monks. Alcuin’s letter does address sins as personal displays of wealth and drunkenness, but he doesn’t really speak to that one big issueContinue reading “#72.11, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025”
#72.10, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne As the messenger, I told Alcuin only that the Norse raiders had a ready market for fine fabrics. The scholar wrote, “Do not glory in the vanity of dress; that is cause for shame, not boasting, in priests and servants of God.”[footnote] The richly dressed patrons seated inContinue reading “#72.10, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025”
#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The purpose of this gathering is to hear the letter read from the bishop’s friend, the scholar for the court of the Frankish King Charles, who, at this time, seems to be a greater king rising over all the kings of Francia and maybe even Northumbria and all theContinue reading “#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025”
#72.8, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop is reading the gospel. Everyone agrees it should be done as grueling as it is. Now there is wonder – is this the reading of only one gospel? Or is the reading of “the gospel” the whole four of them? Two hours into it, with only aContinue reading “#72.8, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025”
#72.7, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop continues reading. In chapter ten of Matthew, the followers of Jesus are commissioned to go out like “sheep among wolves.” At this reading, these men listening are in the clothing that speak this metaphor accidentally too well. The monks wear the wools and these king’s men, pretendingContinue reading “#72.7, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025”
#72.6, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop orders, “Stand for the Gospel!” When the worshippers are the community of monks, he never issues this order because the benches are stacked away and everyone is already standing, as are the monks today, standing in the back of the room. It is the dignitaries and guests forContinue reading “#72.6, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025”
#72.5, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Visiting dignitaries becomes a procession of mourners as each visitor must ponder his own mortality and the fragility of life. Some here count the years until the charted end of the world – Doomsday – scheduled at the end of this millennium. There is the personal hope that this tragedyContinue reading “#72.5, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025”
#72.4, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Low tide opens the way for the great procession on the land bridge. The bishop’s guards set the walking pace, followed by the bishop and the people of his own household who come here often, I am told. The next to come are the wealthy patrons whose gifts support thisContinue reading “#72.4, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025”
#72.3, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The returning surviving monks continue their spiritual practice here. Some see Lindisfarne as the vanguard for the great turning of the millennium. There is the notion that this island was chosen to experience the Doomsday judgement first, expected in 999 C.E. The world has only a little more thanContinue reading “#72.3, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 