Conversion of the Tribes Introduction The Church set about the task of converting the Germanic invaders period of evangelization stretched from 4th century (Germanic tribes) to 11th century (Slavic tribes). most Germanic tribes were Arians. barbarians were uncivilized, warlike people with little developed culture. Introduction With power vacuum created by fall of Roman empire, bishops gained influence in the political and spiritual sectors of their day. Many barbarians converted largely due to two forces : Christian missionaries from Ireland, England & Germany. Christian queens influenced their pagan husbands to convert. Conversion of France, the Church s Eldest Daughter A. Conversion of France 1. Prior to their conversion, Franks were not Christian. 2. St. Clotilda was a Christian; she was also the wife of Clovis, Frankish chief; she tried to obtain his conversion. 3. Clovis promised if the Christian God helped him win the battle against Alemanni, he d convert. Conversion of France 4. Franks won and so at Rheims in A.D. 497, Clovis & 3000 of his troops were baptized by Bishop Remigius. 5. Franks were the first Germanic tribe to be converted. 6. Clovis united Gaul by conquering neighboring Germanic tribes & having them baptized; by mid 6th century all of Gaul was Christian. 1
Conversion of France 7. St. Gregory of Tours wrote History of the Franks. The Conversion of the Celts (Irish) A. St. Patrick: The Apostle of Ireland (d. 493) 1. Born a Roman Briton & son of Roman city official. 2. Irish pirates kidnapped him at 16; sold as slave to Celts. 3. Escaped after 6 years and later studied for priesthood. St. Patrick: The Apostle of Ireland 4. In 430's Pope St. Celestine I sent Patrick to Ireland to aid Bishop Palladius. 5. Palladius died & Patrick made bishop. 6. In 15 years, many in northern half of island baptized & religious communities started. St. Patrick: The Apostle of Ireland 7. Confessions Patrick s book about his spiritual journey of conversion & faith. 2
B. Irish Monks: Protectors & Promoters of Western Civilization 1. Irish monasticism a) resembled austere Eastern monastic tradition anything that could be done to deny the body comfort was employed as a means to bring the soul closer to God. 2. 6th & 7th Century height of Irish influence on Christian culture & evangelization. Irish Monks: Protectors & Promoters of Western Civilization 3. Their monasteries most important centers of learning in all Europe. 4. Their libraries & scriptoria preserved Greco-Roman literary traditions. 5. Irish Christianity differed from Roman Christianity no diocesan priests; abbots exercise authority of a bishop. 6. By 800's, Irish influence declined due to Viking raids & English monasticism. C. St. Columbanus & Irish on the Continent (d. 615) 1. He evangelized northern coast of France & Switzerland. 2. Renewed Christianity where it was weak. 3. Bobbio monastery in Italian Alps founded by Columbanus; later Bobbio became important center of learning. St. Columbanus & Irish on the Continent 4. Celtic spirituality promoted frequent Penance rather than austere public penance of the Roman tradition that was received only once. 5. Irish monks developed Penitential Books to determine what penance went with what sin. 6. 1215 Fourth Lateran Council private frequent Penance universally accepted. A. St. Augustine of Canterbury: Apostle of England (d. ca. 604-609) Conversion of England 1. Benedictine monk and prior of St. Andrew s monastery in Rome (one established by Pope Gregory the Great). 2. In 596 Pope Gregory sent Augustine & 40 monks to England; at one point Augustine asked to return due to rumors of brutality of barbarians in England but Gregory refused his request. 3
St. Augustine of Canterbury: Apostle of England (d. ca. 604-609) 3. Ethelbert king of Kent had Christian wife named Bertha (great-granddaughter of King Clovis of Franks). 4. Christmas Day 597, 10,000 Saxons were baptized in Canterbury. 5. All pagan temples converted into Christian churches. St. Augustine of Canterbury: Apostle of England (d. ca. 604-609) 6. Augustine became Primate Bishop of England in 601 by Pope Gregory and so received the pallium (woolen cloth showing sign of authority & papal favor) B. St. Bede: The Father of English History (673-735) 1. Born in England and entered Benedictine monastery at age 7 at Jarrow. 2. Anglo-Saxon scholar who wrote Ecclesiastical History of the English People. 3. Wrote on numerous topics commentaries on the Bible, biography of St. Cuthbert, history. St. Bede: The Father of English History (673-735) 4. His work utilized Christian measurement of time & made it popular. 5. Declared Venerable within a century of his death & Doctor of the Church by Leo XIII in 1899. 6. After 800, Church in England suffered a great decline Viking attacks. A. St. Boniface: Apostle of Germany (675-754) Conversion of Germany and the Low Countries 1. Born Winfred and entered Benedictine monastery at age 7 in England 2. Eventually became teacher & head of the monastic school 3. Discerned a call to be a missionary to the German people and in 716 left for Frisia hoping to bring them back to the faith they abandoned. 4
St. Boniface: Apostle of Germany (675-754) 4. Unable to convert the Frisians, he asked pope should he stay or return to England; pope deeply impressed with Winfred s holiness and changed his name to Boniface and makes him papal legate to Germany 5. Boniface tried to convert Hessians (south of Frisia) and succeeded after he fells sacred tree, Oak of Thor 6. Hessians surprised he did not die of thunderbolt and conclude Christian God is the stronger. St. Boniface: Apostle of Germany (675-754) 7. In trip to Rome (736), Boniface made Archbishop of Mainz; returns & founds monastery of Fulda center for conversion & spiritual renewal for priests and missionaries. 8. Reformed Frankish church. 9. At 76 years old, returned to Frisia and was martyred. A. Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The Apostles of the Slavs The Conversion of the Slavs 1. First missionaries among the Slavs. 2. Emperor commissioned brothers as missionaries to Moravia (Slovakia). Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The Apostles of the Slavs 3. Cyril developed Glagolithic script (later known as Cyrillic alphabet) to help convert liturgy & Bible into Slavonic tongue. 4. German missionaries denounced the brothers since not using Latin. 5. Brothers go to Rome & new pope (Adrian II) granted them permission to continue with Slavonic liturgy. Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The Apostles of the Slavs 6. Cyril died shortly afterward & was buried in San Clemente in Rome. 7. Methodius arrested & imprisoned by German missionaries; then finally released by Pope John VIII; pope reaffirmed the use of Slavonic language. 5
Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The Apostles of the Slavs 8. Later popes refused to recognize the use of Slavonic & so many Slavs left Roman for Greek church of Constantinople. 9. 1980 Pope John Paul II named brothers Patrons of Europe. 6