Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Wilbert, the elder serving the library, sees my interest in Bede’s books of history and has taken me aside from the large hall to tell me something of the life of this man — his own spiritual guide. “The venerable Bede was delivered to the abbot at Monkwearmouth aContinue reading “#73.11 Thursday, October 23, 2025”
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#73.10 Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. I shouldn’t be surprised by the practice of placing children out and into situations for learning at an early age. That is when a precocious nature of a child reveals itself. I’ve seen it happening through my own generations as a parent. I’ve seen infants sparked to learn newContinue reading “#73.10 Wednesday, October 22, 2025”
#73.9 Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Apparently, my simple sentence of purpose in the librarian’s log book reveals my long past connection with Luxeuil. What I thought was standard manuscript lettering is now only one of several styles used by monks. The style of lettering used can reveal when and where a manuscript was copiedContinue reading “#73.9 Tuesday, October 21, 2025”
#73.8 Thursday, October 16, 2025
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 793 C.E. Today I’m still owned by God, but that’s my secret. I’m dressed as a student, not a monk. I find Jarrow’s renowned library has a magnificent collection of books. It is well-known among the monastic communities and that reputation enables this monastery to borrow more and more books toContinue reading “#73.8 Thursday, October 16, 2025”
#73.7 Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth-Jarrow, 793 C.E. Monkwearmouth-Jarrow is a double monastery with both monks and nuns under one abbot, living in separate communities but sharing in some things. It makes common use of books and inks and abbess, and sometimes church. St. Paul is on the River Tyne, and St. Peter, Monkwearmouth, on the Wear. It’sContinue reading “#73.7 Wednesday, October 15, 2025”
#73.6 Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Historical Setting: Northumbria, 793 C.E. Here is this stout little fellow coming down from the village just now with a traveler’s pack over his shoulder. He’s wearing a loose linen tunic, just long enough to reach his bare knees, hiked up with a sash that his belly hangs over. His calves aren’t wrapped, IContinue reading “#73.6 Tuesday, October 14, 2025”
#73.5 Thursday, October 9, 2025
Historical Setting: Northumbria, 793 CE. Here, in this Northumbrian village I do find some merchants’ stalls set out selling sacks of grains for winter stores, beets and chard; but today there is no one here dealing in fabrics. I ask at a wine seller’s stall where I can find Cloothar, the merchant who isContinue reading “#73.5 Thursday, October 9, 2025”
#73.4 Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Historical Setting: Northumbria, 793 C.E. Religious rule is narrow. To a monk bound to the community by the Rule it may appear that another’s relationship with God is no relationship at all. Brother Ealdwin knows my robe is borrowed and assumes I am spiritually adrift because I don’t seem to value the Benedictine Rule.Continue reading “#73.4 Wednesday, October 8, 2025”
#73.3 Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Historical Setting: Lindisfarne of Northumbria, 793 C.E. As we walk with the visitors to the causeway, I’m hearing more divisive talk of the old debate. The patron I walk with tells me of a monk at Jarrow who wrote a book of the history of these people affirming the singular righteousness of Rome. It’sContinue reading “#73.3 Tuesday, October 7, 2025”
#73.2, Thursday, October 2, 2025
Historical Setting: Lindisfarne of Northumbria, 793 C.E. Ealdwin and I are washing the dishes and I find it is a perfectly unsanctified time to ask Brother Ealdwin the questions I have about the Irish traditions of this monastery. “I’m hearing the patrons and the pilgrims talking among themselves, cursing an Irish root ofContinue reading “#73.2, Thursday, October 2, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 