Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Depending on the king or the earthly power, whether patriots or rebels, Lindisfarne is known either for its sin or its mercy all over one issue. And now the bishop is bringing an entourage to hear the reading of Alcuin’s letter to be read as the king’s men comeContinue reading “#72.2, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025”
Category Archives: Medieval
#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne I arrive back at Lindisfarne to find Brother Ealdwin and several of the others still chipping images into sandstone to make markers for the graves of the monks who were slaughtered in the raid. They don’t allow my intrusion to stop their work. Even though the work they areContinue reading “#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025”
#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Returning across the North Sea, I have passage on a merchant ship, an old-styled galley, not as fast and fit as the ships of the marauding Norsemen but crosses the waters then hugs the coast all the way back to Lindisfarne. Arriving on the island, I find theContinue reading “#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025”
#71.11, Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Past lives on the Loire This horse was borrowed for a fee from the public stable on this edge of the sea. He goes wherever I lead him, while an owned horse only seems to know his way back to his own stall. If there is a fire, the horse whoContinue reading “#71.11, Wednesday, August 27, 2025”
#71.10, Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Past lives on the Loire I know the teacher toiled over what to say to the bishop, distressed and grieving. I fear Alcuin failed to curb the tone of didactic instruction. Or maybe it isn’t a failure to subdue the instructor’s voice, but an intention to offer reprimand. That couldContinue reading “#71.10, Tuesday, August 26, 2025”
#71.9, Thursday, August 21, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier He says, “No doubt, Bishop Higbald is begging my answer on this matter of Lindisfarne’s sins because he is in need of a statement that he can read to both the surviving monks and also the political foe that will address this matter of sin from a scholarly distance.Continue reading “#71.9, Thursday, August 21, 2025”
#71.8, Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier Alcuin has the difficult task of answering Bishop Higbald’s need to address the earthly political power struggle in a time of the bishop’s own personal grief and loss at Lindisfarne. This teacher is asking me about my brief few days in that grieving land and I don’t have anyContinue reading “#71.8, Wednesday, August 20, 2025”
#71.7, Tuesday, August 19, 2025
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 natureContinue reading “#71.7, Tuesday, August 19, 2025”
#71.6, Thursday, August 14, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier on the Loire I was called to meet with Alcuin at this, the matins hour. He is anxiously seeking someone who can listen to the letter he is writing in response to Bishop Higbald’s letter. And he is particularly concerned about an issue that Higbald refers to, as theContinue reading “#71.6, Thursday, August 14, 2025”
#71.5, Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier on the Loire Tonight, I’m staying in a guest room at the monastery near the shrine of St. Martin of Tours waiting here for the king’s scholar, Alcuin, to prepare his answer to Bishop Higbald’s letter with news of the Lindisfarne raid. It is the dark of morning,Continue reading “#71.5, Wednesday, August 13, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 