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12/11/2012IntroductionConversion of theTribes The Church set about thetask of converting theGermanic invaders period of evangelizationstretched from 4th century(Germanic tribes) to 11thcentury (Slavic tribes). most Germanic tribes wereArians. barbarians wereuncivilized, warlike peoplewith little developedculture.Introduction With power vacuum created by fall of Romanempire, bishops gained influence in the political andspiritual sectors of their day. Many barbarians converted largely due to twoforces : Christian missionaries from Ireland, England &Germany. Christian queens influenced their paganhusbands to convert.A. Conversion of France1. Prior to their conversion,Franks were not Christian.2. St. Clotilda was aChristian; she was also thewife of Clovis, Frankishchief; she tried to obtain hisconversion.3. Clovis promised if theChristian God helped himwin the battle againstAlemanni, he’d convert.Conversion of France,the “Church’s EldestDaughter”Conversion of France4. Franks won and so at Rheims inA.D. 497, Clovis & 3000 of histroops were baptized by–Bishop Remigius .5. Franks were the first Germanictribe to be converted.6. Clovis united Gaul byconquering neighboringGermanic tribes & having thembaptized; by mid 6th century allof Gaul was Christian.1
12/11/2012Conversion of France7. St. Gregory ofTours wroteHistory of theFranks.The Conversion of theCelts (Irish)A. St. Patrick: The “Apostle of Ireland” (d.493)1. Born a Roman Briton& son of Roman cityofficial.2. Irish pirates kidnappedhim at 16; sold asslave to Celts.3. Escaped after 6 yearsand later studied forpriesthood.St. Patrick: The “Apostle of Ireland”4. In 430's Pope St.Celestine I sent Patrickto Ireland to aid BishopPalladius.5. Palladius died &Patrick made bishop.6. In 15 years, many innorthern half of islandbaptized & religiouscommunities started.St. Patrick: The “Apostle of Ireland”7. Confessions –Patrick’s bookabout his spiritualjourney ofconversion & faith.2
12/11/2012B. Irish Monks: Protectors & Promoters ofWestern CivilizationIrish Monks: Protectors & Promoters of WesternCivilization3. Their monasteries – most importantcenters of learning in all Europe.4. Their libraries & scriptoriapreserved Greco-Roman literarytraditions.5. Irish Christianity differed fromRoman Christianity – no diocesanpriests; abbots exercise authority ofa bishop.6. By 800's, Irish influence declineddue to Viking raids & Englishmonasticism.1. Irish monasticisma) resembled austere Eastern monastic tradition –“anything that could be done to deny the body comfortwas employed as a means to bring the soul closer toGod.”2. 6th & 7th Century – height of Irish influence on Christianculture & evangelization.C.St. Columbanus & Irish on the Continent(d. 615)St. Columbanus & Irish on the Continent4.5.1. He evangelized northern coast of France & Switzerland.2. Renewed Christianity where it was weak.3. Bobbio – monastery in Italian Alps founded byColumbanus; later Bobbio became important center oflearning.6.A.Conversion of EnglandCeltic spirituality promotedfrequent Penance rather thanaustere public penance of theRoman tradition that wasreceived only once.Irish monks developedPenitential Books to determinewhat penance went with whatsin.1215 Fourth Lateran Council –private frequent Penanceuniversally accepted.St. Augustine of Canterbury: “Apostle of England” (d.ca. 604-609)1. Benedictine monk and prior ofSt. Andrew’s monastery inRome (one established by PopeGregory the Great).2. In 596 Pope Gregory sentAugustine & 40 monks toEngland; at one point Augustineasked to return due to rumors ofbrutality of barbarians inEngland but Gregory refusedhis request.3
12/11/2012St. Augustine of Canterbury: “Apostle of England”(d. ca. 604-609)3. Ethelbert – king ofKent had Christianwife named Bertha(great-granddaughter ofKing Clovis of Franks).4. Christmas Day 597,10,000 Saxons werebaptized in Canterbury.5. All pagan templesconverted intoChristian churches.B. St. Bede: The “Father of EnglishHistory”(673-735)St. Augustine of Canterbury: “Apostle of England”(d. ca. 604-609)6. Augustine becamePrimate Bishop ofEngland in 601 byPope Gregory andso received thepallium (woolencloth showing signof authority & papalfavor)St. Bede: The “Father of English History”(673735)1. Born in England andentered Benedictinemonastery at age 7 atJarrow.2. Anglo-Saxon scholar whowrote Ecclesiastical Historyof the English People.3. Wrote on numerous topics –commentaries on the Bible,biography of St. Cuthbert,history.4. His work utilizedChristian measurement oftime & made it popular.5. Declared “Venerable”within a century of hisdeath & “Doctor of theChurch” by Leo XIII in1899.6. After 800, Church inEngland suffered a greatdecline– Viking attacks.A.Conversionof Germanyand the LowCountriesSt. Boniface: “Apostle of Germany”(675754)1. Born Winfred and enteredBenedictine monastery atage 7 in England2. Eventually became teacher& head of the monasticschool3. Discerned a call to be amissionary to the Germanpeople and in 716 left forFrisia hoping to bring themback to the faith theyabandoned.4
12/11/2012St. Boniface: “Apostle of Germany”(675-754)4. Unable to convert the Frisians, heasked pope should he stay or returnto England; pope deeply impressedwith Winfred’s holiness andchanged his name to Boniface andmakes him papal legate to Germany5. Boniface tried to convert Hessians(south of Frisia) and succeededafter he fells sacred tree, Oak ofThor6. Hessians surprised he did not die ofthunderbolt and conclude ChristianGod is the stronger.St. Boniface: “Apostle of Germany”(675754)7. In trip to Rome (736),Boniface madeArchbishop of Mainz;returns & foundsmonastery of Fulda –center for conversion &spiritual renewal forpriests and missionaries.8. Reformed Frankishchurch.9. At 76 years old,returned to Frisiaand was martyred.A. Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The “Apostles ofthe Slavs”The Conversion of theSlavsSts. Cyril and Methodius:The “Apostles of the Slavs”3. Cyril developed Glagolithicscript (later known asCyrillic alphabet) to helpconvert liturgy & Bible intoSlavonic tongue.4. German missionariesdenounced the brothers sincenot using Latin.5. Brothers go to Rome & newpope (Adrian II) grantedthem permission to continuewith Slavonic liturgy.1. First missionariesamong the Slavs.2. Emperorcommissionedbrothers asmissionaries toMoravia (Slovakia).Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The “Apostles of theSlavs”6. Cyril died shortly afterward & was buried in San Clemente inRome.7. Methodius arrested & imprisoned by German missionaries; thenfinally released by Pope John VIII; pope reaffirmed the use ofSlavonic language.5
12/11/2012Sts. Cyril and Methodius: The “Apostles of theSlavs”8. Later popes refused torecognize the use ofSlavonic & so manySlavs left Roman forGreek church ofConstantinople.9. 1980 Pope John Paul IInamed brothers“Patrons of Europe.”6
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.
