Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The secular church near Annegray Mater Doe, our priest, shared with me her concern with answering the question of the vintners with her explanation of baptism, it puts the Jewish settlers coming to the lands in danger as outcasts. She is realizing now, after they left, that the real concern theyContinue reading “#53.4, Thurs., Feb. 8, 2024”
Category Archives: Early Medieval
#53.3, Weds., Feb. 7, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The secular church near Annegray Mater Doe tells me of her conversation with two men who came here asking about baptism. “They asked me particularly about the power of baptism as it is demanded for Christianizing Jews.” “That is the concern these days?” She continues, “We know it’s a king’sContinue reading “#53.3, Weds., Feb. 7, 2024”
#53.2, Tues., Feb. 6, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges Brandell prepares for his journey into the unknown of Constantinople. He will be guided by his brother and Gaillard across the mountains, then they will part ways and Brandell plans to join a merchant ship’s crew in Ravenna to earn his travel by sea toContinue reading “#53.2, Tues., Feb. 6, 2024”
#53.1, Thurs., Feb. 1, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges The little painting, the icon, that Greg and Gaillard brought as a gift to our household is captivating. People who know the story well, children who’ve never heard it, the peasantry who have heard it all bedazzled with mystery by priests and scholars, everyone, nowContinue reading “#53.1, Thurs., Feb. 1, 2024”
#52.14, Weds., Jan. 31, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges While Brandell is completely committed to a journey somewhere he knows nothing of, using shear creative imagination to solve a problem he has no control over, he is simply answering God’s dare. He has no imagination for any of the dangers of travel. He doesn’tContinue reading “#52.14, Weds., Jan. 31, 2024”
#52.13, Tues., Jan. 30, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. Creekside near the farm in the Vosges “I did pray about it, Papa. And God answered with that kind of backwards answer when God expects us to already know something. So, the second verse of my prayer was, ‘Yes, dear God, Creator of all Creation, I don’t even want toContinue reading “#52.13, Tues., Jan. 30, 2024”
#52.12, Thurs., Jan. 25, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges “Brandell.” I ask, “sing for me this so-called evil verse?” He sings shamedly, nearly under his breath. “My grandpapa was a Pharisee, fine, A God beloved, obedient Jew! He feasted on lamb and sipped blest wine And remembered theContinue reading “#52.12, Thurs., Jan. 25, 2024”
#52.11, Weds., Jan. 24, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges I can understand Brandell’s frustration with that Church authority at Luxeuil. For all these centuries the ancient Roman’s rumors of poison hate against Jews have been lingering in the shadows, seemingly harmless. Rome is long gone. But now, suddenly, one emperor, far away in theContinue reading “#52.11, Weds., Jan. 24, 2024”
#52.10, Tues., Jan. 23, 2024
Art Notes: This gouache painting is this artist’s interpretation of a detail of the relief from the Arch of Titus (in ruin) showing the Roman looting of the Temple in Jerusalem. Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges Brandell asks me, “So Did Rome ever conquer the Jews?” “Rome is goneContinue reading “#52.10, Tues., Jan. 23, 2024”
#52.9, Thurs., Jan. 18, 2024
Historical Setting, 626 C.E. The farm in the Vosges “Beware!” I tell Brandell, “When a voice of authority says, ‘Since you can’t read,’ or ‘because this is voluminous and technical let me tell you what it really says’ then you can expect misinformation, lies and untruths which are easily doled out to the illiterateContinue reading “#52.9, Thurs., Jan. 18, 2024”
Lazarus Ink 