Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods Mater Doe watches me explore this sanctuary with the same eye she watches over the birds searching seeds outside the window. I see this Roman statue of Diana looking very much like the goddess of the hunt our visitors mentioned. This is a deeplyContinue reading “#40.8, Weds., Jan. 18, 2023”
Category Archives: Serial Fiction
#40.7, Tues., Jan. 17, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods I’ve found my way to a little place on the mountainside overlooking the ruin of Annegray. Here the only words the priest can hear from another human is whatever that person chooses to shout to her. I assume she hears much more of Creation thanContinue reading “#40.7, Tues., Jan. 17, 2023”
#40.6, Thurs., Jan. 12, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. The church in the woods Horses delivered and I start home, but this little church on the hillside captures my imagination. Now I find myself picking through a hunter’s path in the thickets. It’s in disrepair, more in the style of a Roman Pagan temple than either a Christian Basilica,Continue reading “#40.6, Thurs., Jan. 12, 2023”
#40.5, Weds., Jan. 11, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. The path back to Annegray Now we are discussing the possibilities that a new bishop of Rome will impose Roman rule on these outlands like Frankish Gaul. The monastic Rule of Benedict echoes Roman order and the Irish Rule has subtle distinctions that, in practice, make a big difference. Continue reading “#40.5, Weds., Jan. 11, 2023”
#40.4, Tues., Jan. 10, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. The path back to Annegray As we walk the horses back we are discussing the plans for the new monastery. We’ve heard it would be a double monastery with both men and women. Brother Servant explains, “I’ve asked Father Columbanus about this because of my particular circumstance.” Brother Servant,Continue reading “#40.4, Tues., Jan. 10, 2023”
#40.3, Thurs., Jan. 5, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. The path to Annegray On this very cold morning Brother Servant and another monk and I put the silks back on the four imperial horses and walk them back to Annegray. The ice on the creek is solid enough today even for the horses the walk over. “It’s aContinue reading “#40.3, Thurs., Jan. 5, 2023”
#40.2, Weds., Jan. 4, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil No sooner has the family of visitors left than here again are monks from Annegray returning up the hill-path, this time leading four horses adorned in silk. We’ve seen this decoration on horses before. “So the dead bishop of Rome sends another envoy andContinue reading “#40.2, Weds., Jan. 4, 2023”
#40.1, Tues., Jan. 3, 2023
Historical setting: 590 C.E. Cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil Maybe they are neighbors. A family of hunters found our doorstep on their way home from somewhere they say is a church named after St. Martin said to be hidden in the woods behind the monastery. It seems legends of Christian saints left a sourContinue reading “#40.1, Tues., Jan. 3, 2023”
#39.13, Thurs., Dec. 29, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. cottage between Annegray and Luxeuil I can understand our visiting neighbors are not favorable to Christian Saints and foreign missionaries murdering sacred trees of Pagan worship. And it doesn’t take very much chatter to discover our guests are not the variety of Christians who would make a pilgrimage to aContinue reading “#39.13, Thurs., Dec. 29, 2022”
#39.12, Weds., Dec. 28, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. a cottage Between Annegray and Luxeuil No sooner were the monks on their way down the hill than a group of people, several children, some women, an old man and a younger man, trudged up the hill through the snow and stopped at our door. “Good morning Friends, haveContinue reading “#39.12, Weds., Dec. 28, 2022”
Lazarus Ink 