The monastic life from the fathers of the desert to Charlemagne; eighth volume of The formation of Christendom

Front matter

WTT

LIBRARY

Class

Preface

I HAVE followed in this volume the sources of history, as far as possible, by transcribing the words of those who witnessed the acts which they record. Herein I hold that no historical testimony equals in value the official authentic records of the Holy See in the government of the Christian kingdom and commonwealth. Therefore, the great collection of Mansi, in 3 I vols. folio, stands first in the rank of those whom I have consulted.

'AVTCOVLOV.

ST. GREGORY, Bishop of Tours, father of Frank history. BEDE'S "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum." MABILLON, " Ada Sanctorum Ordinis >Sr. Benedicti, in sceculornm

classes distributa," 9 vols. fol.

" The Rule of our Most Holy Father St. Benedict," by a Monk of St.

schichte" 3 vols.

HEFKLE'S " Conciliengeschichte," 7 vols. MONTALEMBERT, " Les Moines d} Occident," 7 vols. OZANAM, " La Civilisation au Cinquieme Siecle," 2 vols., and " Etudes

Germaniques," 2 vols.

GODEFROID KURTH, " Histoire Poetique des Merovingiens" 1893. "L'Eglise et la Science," by E. P. CH. DE SMEDT, S.J., 1877. MOHLER'S " Geschiclite des Monchthums in der Zeit seiner Enstehung

und ersten Ausbildung," edited by Dollinger, Regensburg, 1839. "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Rev. W. B. MORRIS, 1890. BELLESHEIM, Dr. A., " Geschichte der katholischen Kirche in Ireland,"

3 vols.

AUBREY DE VERE, "Legends and Records," "Legends of tlie Saxon Saints," " St. Peter's Chains," " Legends of St. Patrick."

To three of these authors I wish to record my special obligations. I have had ever before me Montalembert's viii PREFACE

great work, on which that fervent lover of all that is good and noble spent so many years of his life. In St. Bede's History I have found such authentic testimony to the birth of a Christian people as does not exist in the annals of any other nation for the first generation of its faith. From Aubrey de Yere, in his " Legends of St. Patrick," I first learnt the unapproachable grandeur of that saint as a converter, whose single life compassed the delivery of a nation from ancestral paganism to the Christian faith, with its full dowry of the Monastic Life.

Chapter I Page

The moment ,of the Church's first triumph at the Council of Nicaea i ^

"Foundation of the first monastery by Pachomius on the Nile . . i ,Y

Its hierarchical form of arrangement 2

A convent of nuns under the sister of Pachomius .... 2

—Conditions for entering this monastic life 3 A

-Antony, the first patriarch of monks, precedes Pachomius by forty

years 4

St. Athanasius composes the Life of Antony 4

Having been his disciple and well acquainted with his manners . 4

The youth of Antony spent in a Christian home 5

His life when left an orphan at eighteen with an only sister . . 5 The first fourteen years of Antony's ascetic life from twenty-one to

thirty-five . 6

He retires by himself to a deserted castle for twenty years . . 7 After twenty years of solitary life he comes fo,rth at the call of

--Monasteries in the desert founded by his example . . . . 8

Antony at fifty-five years of age appears as a leader of men . . 9

A sermon given by him in Egyptian translated into Greek . . 9

Time and eternity, earth and heaven 10

The kingdom of heaven is within , 12

The soul created intelligent and good 12

The number and power of our enemies the demons . . . .13

They were created good 13

Their devices and appearances against us . . . . . 14

Our Lord's coming took away their power 16

The devil received from God his power to afflict Job . . . .18

The demons dread the ascetic life 18

They pretend to foretell, but are incapable of foreseeing, the future 19

Purity of heart gives true knowledge 20

Joy attends on the presence of good spirits, disturbance on that of

evil 21

The power of working signs not to be sought for. . . .-} . 22

Antony's own experience of demons 23

ix x CONTENTS

PAGE

The devil's reproach and Antony's answer 24

Demons become to us such as they find us in ourselves ... 25

Always to demand of the demon who he is 25 s

Monasteries created by the effect of Antony's words .... 26 p

Increased severity of Antony's life in his own monastery , . . 26

Antony at Alexandria in the persecution of Maximinus ... 26

His dress and mode of life on his return 27

A great number healed outside his monastery 28

He retires three days' journey to a mountain in the desert . . 28 Lives alone in the "inner mountain," and cultivates a garden for his

support 29

Is attacked by phantoms of wild beasts and demons .... 29

Saves his company from perishing by thirst 30

His injunction to write down privately one's faults . . . .31

Heals Fronto by sending him away 32

Sends water to a perishing brother at a distance .... 33

Sees the soul of Ammon carried to heaven in triumph ... 34

Heals the malady of a nun at Laodicea 35

Has revealed to him the needs of those who come to him ... 35

Has a vision of his soul encountering "the powers of the air" . . 36

Antony's deference to every ecclesiastic 38

His own countenance attracted to him those who approached . . 38

His abomination of heresy, especially Arianism ..... 39 The great reverence paid to him at Alexandria when Athanasius was

patriarch . . . 39

He delivers a possessed child by the name of Christ in the presence

of the patriarch 40

He foils philosophers 40

He contrasts Christian truths with the impure fables of their gods . 41 Deems the action of faith superior to sophistical arguments . .41 The cross of Christ annulling oracles, enchantments, and magic ' . 43 Antony delivers possessed men by the sign of the cross in the presence of philosophers 44

Constantino and his sons write to him as a father .... 45

Antony returns to his accustomed life in the " inner mountain" . 46 Sees in vision the Arian profanations in Egypt two years before they

happen 46

The promise of Christ ensures the happening of miracles ... 47 Antony healed not by commanding, but by praying and naming

Christ 47

He foretells the death of the persecuting Duke Balacius ... 48

His effect upon all classes of men 49

Antony's last words to his monks 50

He absolutely forbids keeping his body unburied, in censure of

Egyptian custom . . 50

His injunctions to the two monks to bury him secretly . . 51

He gives his two sheepskins to the Bishops Athanasius and Serapion 52 He expires with great joy derived from the presence of those who

come to meet him . ' . . , 52

CONTENTS

PAOK

Antony died in perfect soundness of body and mind, a hundred and five years old, living in a mountain and yet known to all the world 52

The parting words of Athanasius -53

Chapter II Monastic Life In The Fourth Century

The death of St. Antony in 356 when the life of St. Athanasius was

in danger from the attack of the Duke Syrianus .... 54 He was commissioned by the Emperor Constantius to seize the

patriarch in his church . -54

When the Life was published in 365 Athanasius had been thirty-seven

years patriarch of Alexandria, and the most renowned confessor 55 This life worked a great number of conversions and had troops of

imitators 56

Termed by St. Gregory Nazianzen "a code of the monastic life in

the form of a narrative " 56

So by St. Chrysostom and by Mohler in our own day .... 56 Bearing of St. Antony's life on that of St. Athanasius ... 58 j Who carries to Eome in 340 the knowledge of this life of the Desert

Fathers, with two of their number 59

St. Jerome's account of the effect produced at Eome by the presence

and teaching of Athanasius and his companions ....

Gestimony of St. Augustine in 388 to the regular life of both sexes in the Italian cities !is institution in his own episcopal house

St. Jerome's praise of Pammachius, first noble of Eome and com-

mander-in-chief of the monks 65

St. Basil's narrative of his own conversion, and the monks of Egypt,

Palestine, and Mesopotamia

He introduces monastic life in Pontus and Cappadocia

His own picture of ascetic training

And what the demeanour of a monk should be .

The Basilicas which he raised in his episcopal city, Caesarea

St. Basil and St. Gregory encountered Julian the Apostate at the

university of Athens 74

St. Gregory of Nyssa makes virginity the special beauty of the Divine

Nature 74

St. Chrysostom compares the king with the monk . . . 77-83 St. Ambrose quotes to his sister her reception as a nun in St. Peter's

by Pope Liberius of blessed memory in 362 83

Emphatic commendation of Pope Liberius by his four contemporaries,

Ambrose, Basil, Epiphanius, and Siricius 85

St. Martin, founder of monasteries and example of the monastic life

in Gaul y xii CONTENTS

PAGE

His house at Marmoutier the nursery of monks who become bishops 87 In seventy years from the founding of the first monastery by Pacho-

mius, the monastic institute is planted in both sexes from

Palestine to Gaul 88

St. Basil, St. Augustine, St. Benedict, the great promoters of the

Common Life 90

Which was developed when the Church most needed it . .90

That the delivery from heathen persecution might be counterpoised

by purity of conduct in union with strength of belief . . .91

Chapter III The Force Of The Monastic Life

The time of the fourth century for the Eoman Empire, hidden then,

revealed now 92

The seasonalbleness with which the Fathers advocated monastic life 93

How the life of Antony attracted the example of Hilarion ... 95

St. Basil finds Syrian and Mesopotamian monasteries well founded . 96

Sets himself to draw a monastic rule 96

The vast difference between an individual ascetic and an ascetic house 97

The ccenobitic life rapidly prevails over the solitary life . « • 97

The greatest Fathers of the East and West active in introducing it . 98

The monastery of Lerins and its great work 99

The Sees which accepted their bishops from Lerins . . . .100

St. Caesarius and his monastery at Aries 101

Cassian and monastic life at Marseilles 102

Cassian finds no one rule established in Eastern monasteries . . 102

Quick spread of the monastic life amid much opposition . . . 102

Contribution of this life to ecclesiastical learning in the Fathers . 103 It educates and supplies to the Church the worthiest bishops . .104

St. Martin founding Marmoutier 106

The founding of Condat 107

Character of the monks as bishops 108

The course of the empire from Constantino's sole monarchy in 323 . 109 First division at his death in 337 between Constantine, Constans, and

Constantius no

By the death of both brothers Constantine in 350 becomes sole emperor, and attempts to force the bishops into Arian doctrine . no At Valentinian's accession in 364 East and West become permanently

distinct in their administration no

Great deterioration of the empire and tyranny of Valens over Catholics

in the East .in

Death of Valentinian in 375, and of Valens in 378, causes Theodosius

to become emperor in the East 112

Theodosius during fifteen years suspends the fate of the empire,

which collapses at his death 113

CONTENTS xiii

PAGE

In the fifth century the Western Empire became the prey of Northern

barbarians, who were likewise Arian heretics . . . . 113 The Western Empire a course of perpetual dissolution from Constan-

tine to Theodoric's death in 526 114

The course of the Church from the Nicene Council in 328 a new era

marked by four great developments 114

Development of conciliar action elucidating the doctrine of the Incarnation 116

Efflorescence of Christian literature during this conciliar action . 1 16 Growth of government keeps pace with expansion of learning and

consolidation of doctrine 117

Leo fixes Christian doctrine, and the Western Empire is abolished . 118 The position of the Pope at the abolition of the empire . . .118 The Arian schism mastered by Popes under hostile domination, and the infallibility of the Church proclaimed by the East to rest on

the Papal See 119

The rise of the monastic life under Antony and its expansion under

Benedict equally wonderful 119

The misery of Europe complete at the birth of Benedict . . .119 Benedict at Subiaco and at Monte Cassino . . . . . . 120 >•

Delivers a captive peasant from his Gothic tormentor . . .122 Benedict dies just before the end of the Ostrogothic rule in Italy . 123 How far the ccenobitic life had gone before Benedict . . . .123

The four sorts of monks mentioned by the Kule of St. Benedict . 123 /T-he abbot, as a father, holds the place of Christ . . . .125

The abbot's teaching should be twofold, by word and by example . 126 He must suit himself to every disposition intrusted to him . .126

He should be elected by all the brethren 127

He should consult the brethren, but act himself 127

The abbot's office the same as that seen by St. Augustine 150 years

before 128

The monastery to contain all things needed by the monks . . 128 \J

The whole monastic life built upon obedience 128 'x

Private property absolutely forbidden . . . . . .129

The novice to be accurately informed of the life before he is received . 130

The promise of stability made after threefold examination . -131

Bossuet's words on the Kule 132

Surpassed by its effect as the parent of so many generations . . 132

Chapter IV The Blessing Of St. Benedict

. Benedict sends his disciple Maurus to found a house in France . 134 multitude of monasteries founded in Gaul in the sixth century ............ I35_ xiv CONTENTS

PAGE

The Benedictine rule finally accepted by them all . . . 135 King Theodebert, grandson of Clovis, approves the foundation . .136 The Burgundians, the Visigoths, and the Franks, and their settlement in Gaul 137

By A.D. 550 the Franks had spread through the whole land . . 137

Character of these barbarian invasions 137

The Koman society in Gaul destroyed by them . . . . 139

This destruction the same everywhere in the western provinces . . 139 The cities in some respects fortresses, but continually falling in . . 140

Merits and demerits of the Franks 140

Clovis treats the subjection of Aquitaine and Burgundy as a holy war 141 Merovingian munificence in giving, viciousness in life . . .141

The terrible barbarism of three centuries 142

Contradictons of the Merovingian race 143

St. Kadegonda, her captivity, education, and married life . . . 144 Is allowed by Clotaire to leave him and to build a monastery at

Poitiers 145

Her life at the Holy Cross for more than forty years .... 145 The burial of St. Kadegonda by St. Gregory of Tours, and the subsequent state of her monastery 147

Summing up of the Merovingian period 147

Perpetual variations of kingdoms, sovereigns, and frontiers . . 148 The same state introduced by the Saxon incursions in Britain . . 149

The similar condition of Italy and Spain 150

The Christian unity in the midst of universal instability . . .151 The seat of unity in the accordance of mind with mind . . .152 How truth and unity stand to each other . . . . . .152

The unity of the Church in General Councils contrasted with the

civil dissolution 152

The action of the Pope in all these Councils without parallel . . 153 Loss/to the empire in the West of the imperial security . . . 154 The monk entering the forest as a pilgrim and founding in it monas-

/ teries 155

/Names given by the monks to their monasteries 157

The birth and education of St. Columban 157

He studies for ten years in the great monastery of Bangor . 157

At thirty years of age departs with twelve monks for Gaul . .158

Plants the great monastery of Luxeuil 159

Columban rebukes King Thierry for his incontinence, and is expelled 1 59 He is carried away first to Besangon and then to Nantes . . .161 He stays a time at Bregenz, then crosses the Alps to Bobbio . . 161 Columban's letter to Pope Boniface IV. and his death at Bobbio . 162 Bertulfe, his second successor at Bobbio, obtains from Pope Hono-

rius its exemption from episcopal jurisdiction . . . .162 u Columban's work at Luxeuil, foundation of Dissentis and of St. Gall 163 Eustatius, second abbot of Luxeuil, which becomes monastic capital

of the whole region 164

Walbert, the third abbot, governs it for forty years . . . . 165 Pope John IV. bestows on it exemption from episcopal jurisdiction . 165

CONTENTS xv

PAGE

Its six hundred monks found religious colonies in every direction

while Mohammed is commencing his religion .... 165 \/ The multiplication of monasteries begins a new epoch . . .166 v\ Its effect doubled by the unsettled political condition of Gaul . ' . 166 The foundation of Lure by Deole or Deicola . . . . .167 Lure doubly endowed by a rich widow and by King Clotaire II. . .168 Moustier and Grand val founded by another monk from Luxeuil . .169 The life of Vandregisile and St. Ouen, Archbishop of Rouen . .170 Who induces him to found the Abbey of Fontenelle or St. Vandrille 171 The inhabitants of the district converted by the abbot of Fontenelle 172

Jumieges also founded by Philibert 172

The two convert and civilise the country of the Seine . , . 173 Nine hundred monks and fifteen hundred lay brothers at Jumieges . 173

Chapter V St. Patrick And St. Augustine

What is that Vita Communis the course of which has been so long

followed ? . . . . 1 74

The Church's establishment of Christian marriage . . . .174 Followed by another home created for the supernatural life . . 175 St. Benedict's answer as to what it rests upon . . . . . 175 Bossuet's definition of the Benedictine Rule, how justified . .176 The establishment of a monastery indicates a new power in the

spiritual life equal to marriage in the civil life . . . .176 The acceptance of such a life by vast numbers of the Teutonic and

Gallo-Roman race in France from the middle of the sixth century 177 The five forces conjointly forming a new society . . . .178 The mission of St. Patrick at the time that Gaul and Britain are lost

to the Roman Empire 180

He witnesses and shares the Christian life at Marmoutier, Lerins,

and Auxerre 181

At sixty years of age he is sent as missionary to Ireland . . . 182

He establishes the monastic institute 182

The great Irish monasteries send forth missionaries to the Continent 183 Gaul, which gave Patrick to Ireland, received Columban back from her 184 Irish learning in the time of Italian and Gallic ignorance . . .185 The great monasteries in Wales, Bangor, Llandaff, St. David, St.

Asaph found Sees 185

The conversion of Kadoc, who founds the Abbey of Llancarvan . 187 Brittany converted by an immigration of British monks . . .188 The number of Irish monks who founded monasteries out of Ireland,

and were canonised for their work in conversion . . . .189 The conversion of England by mission from St. Gregory . . .191 Effect of the Saxon invasion on the Christian religion . . .192

Gregory's faith and courage in this mission 192

b xvi CONTENTS

PAGE

Augustine and his monks pass through France and reach Ethelbert . 193

The king, observing their life and conduct, is converted by them . 194 Augustine goes to Aries to be consecrated by the archbishop . .196

St. Gregory appoints him primate of all English bishops . . . 197

And records the baptism of ten thousand Angles at Christmas, 597 . 198

Contemporaneous documents attest St. Augustine's mission . . 199 As also does the contrast between the Saxons as Pagans and as

Christians 199

St. Gregory's letter to Mellitus prescribing treatment of heathen

temples 201

He prescribes to the archbishop to live as a monk, with his clergy

as monks ...» 202

Special notes in the twin conversions of Ireland and of England . 202

What passed in Italy while Patrick was planting the faith in Ireland 203

The state of Britain when it was converted — Burke and Lingard . 204

The Archbishop of Canterbury made its primate by the Pope . . 205 Diocesan and National Councils and the superior Papal authority 206-208 This controlling and confirming power exerted through the seventh

century 208

The archbishop the link connecting his province with the Pope . 209

How the monastic institute grew from St. Anthony to St. Augustine 210

CHAPTER VI THE MONKS MAKE ENGLAND Bede's conclusion of his history .211

The last day of his life . . 211

The sources of Bede's information 212

Burke names him the Father of English learning . . . .213

The universal character of his mind .214

His history invaluable to us— Lingard — Alfred the Great . . .215 Enables us to compare the Church set up by St. Augustine with

the Catholic Church in the seventh century 216

And the Catholic Church of the seventh century with the Catholic

Church of the nineteenth 216

And bestows on the first Anglo-Saxon century a history such as the

first Christian century does not possess 217

King Edwin of Northumbria marries Ethelburga, daughter of Ethelbert 218

Letter of Pope Boniface V. to King Edwin, still a heathen . .219 And to Queen Ethelburga entreating her to work for his conversion 219 Edwin converted by Paulinus, who reminds him of an old sign . . 220 Considers with his Witan the Christian faith'and embraces it . .221

Is baptized at York with a great number 221

Letter of Pope Honorius I. to Edwin, and gift of the pallium to

Paulinus . , 222

CONTENTS xvii

PAGE

Death of King Edwin ...... ... 223

King Oswald brings Bishop Aidan from lona, seating him at Lindis-

farne 225

Life of Aidan, the monk-bishop 225

Life and death of King Oswald . . 226

Kings Oswy and Oswin divide Northumbria between them . . 228

Oswin's gift of a horse to Aidan, and how he is treacherously slain . 229

Bishop Aidan's character drawn by Bede 230

Eanfleda, Queen of Northumbria 231

Oswy's great victory over the heathen Saxon Penda .... 232 Bede's character of the three Cletic bishops, Aidan, Finan, and

Colman 233

The congress held at the monastery of Whitby 234

King Oswy orders Colman and Wilfrid to set forth their several

grounds 235

Wilfrid rests on the authority of St. Peter 236

This is accepted as decisive by Oswy and the congress . . . 237

The birth and youth of Wilfrid and his life at Lindisfarne . . 237

His wish to go to Home favoured by Queen Eanfleda .... 237

He is recommended to King Ercombert, and reaches Lyons . . 238

His first pilgrimage to Eome 239

His three years' stay with the archbishop at Lyons .... 240

His return to England and consecration by the Bishop of Paris . 241

Ceadda made Bishop of York by King Oswy 242

Kings Oswy and Egbert write to the Pope to send them an archbishop 242

Pope Vitalian's letter to King Oswy 243

The pains taken by Pope Vitalian to find and send an archbishop . 244

Archbishop Theodore received in a visitation all over England . . 245

Oswy prevented by death from a pilgrimage to Eome .... 246 English students retire to Ireland for study or devotion . . -247 Egbert converts lona, with all its dependent monasteries, to the

Catholic custom of celebrating Easter and the tonsure . . 248 The first Council convoked at Hertford in 673 by Archbishop Theodore ' 249

Its ten canons 250

The incidents which mark this Council 252

Chapter VII Three Nuns Of Odin's Race, Hilda, Elfleda, And Etheldreda

The work of the three martyr-kings, Edwin, Oswald, and Oswin . 254

King Oswy and his wife Eanfleda 255

Eanfleda ends as a nun under her daughter Elfleda as abbess . . 255

The three monk-bishops throned at Lindisfarne 257 xviii CONTENTS

PAGE

All those who joined them or were educated by them monks . . 258

Aidan's vigorous work in education 258

The Anglo-Saxon maidens aspire to be brides of Christ . . . 259 Ebba, the sister of Kings Oswald and Oswy, becomes Abbess of

Coldingham ' 260

Bede's narrative of St. Hilda 261

She visits the monastery of Chelles, and is sent by Aidan to be

abbess on the Wear, and then at Hartlepool .... 262

The discipline she established at Streaneshelch or Whitby . . 262

The five bishops who came out of Whitby monastery .... 263

St. Hilda becomes a light to all England 263

Her death after six continued years of suffering .... 264

The vision of her death by a nun in another convent .... 265 Bede describes St. Hilda's thirty years at Whitby . . . .265

No nation at its conversion so prized the virginal life .... 265 The great abbesses rank with bishops and abbots, and witness

charters . 266

Elfleda, King Oswy's daughter, ranks with St. Ebba and St. Hilda . 267 Wilfrid becomes Bishop of York, with all the dominions of Oswy for

his episcopate ... 267

He is also Abbot of Hexharn and Kipon 269

His character and manners attract all to him 270

St. Etheldreda, obtains leave from her husband to leave him - . . 271

Wilfrid's ten years of laborious work in his diocese of Northumbria . 272

St. Theodore in 679 appoints three bishops to divide his diocese . 272

Wilfrid appeals to the Pope and goes in person to Rome . . . 272

Preaches in Frisia, and passes by Austrasia and Lombardy to Rome . 273

Pope Agatho brings the appeal of Wilfrid before his Roman Council . 275

And reinstates him in the See of York 275

Wilfrid, by the Pope's command, makes confession of faith for all the

Northern bishops 276

Etheldreda, being Queen of Northumbria, becomes a nun and Abbess

Her body sixteen years after burial disinterred and found incorrupt . 278 The three queens of Northumberland, Kent, and Mercia successive

Abbesses of Ely 279

The life and pilgrimages of St. Bennet Biscop 280

Is attached by Pope Vitalian to the newly - appointed primate,

Theodore 282

Builds a monastery at Wearmouth by help of King Egfrid . . 282

And a second monastery at Jarrow 283

He dies, after sixteen years, in 690 285

English conversion due exclusively to the work of monks and nuns . 285

Testimonies of Burke on this subject 286

French monasteries are the cradles of English nuns .... 288

The union of Church and State founded in the monastic spirit . . 289

The great part of woman in the conversion of the Teutonic race . 289 The Fathers of the Desert lose their progeny in the East and regain

it in the West . . .292

CONTENTS xix

•

Chapter VIII St. Boniface, Apostle Of Germany Page

Irregularities in the time of St. Theodore, and their correction . . 294

The beginning of parish priests 295

Outline of their functions 295

They are bound to continence 297

Bishops in their cathedrals live as monks with their clergy . . 298

The presence of women forbidden in a mass-priest's house . . 298 The time and action of Pope Sergius, who refuses the Trullan

Council 299

And the introduction of married priests into the East . . . 300 Which six successive Popes refuse for the West at the risk of their

life from the Eastern emperor 301

Other acts of Pope Sergius in support of the English Church . . 302

St. Willibrord and St. Suidbert in Frisia 303

The fifty years missionary life of St. Willibrord 304

Winfrid, the Anglo-Saxon monk, appears before Pope Gregory II. . 305

Who commissions him to preach to unbelieving nations . . . 306

Winfrid joins St. Willibrord during three years 307

His second visit to Pope Gregory II., who makes him regionary

The oath of Winfrid— Boniface to the Pope 309

The compares or structure of the Church seen in this oath . . . 309 The protection, support, and counsel given by the Pope to Boniface 311

Six letters written by the Pope to commend him to Germans on the

Everything as to ordinations prescribed according to a set rule . 313 Gregory II. converting the old Saxons as Gregory I. the Anglo- Saxons ... 313

Three foundations of the German Church given by Gregory II. to

Boniface fs 314

Charles Martel receives and supports him 315

Boniface cuts down Thor's oak before a great multitude . . . 315 He builds many monasteries and churches on the site of former

heathen sanctuaries 316

He draws a great number of Anglo-Saxon monks and nuns from

England to help him 316

Death of Pope Gregory II 317

Pope Gregory III. confers the rank of archbishop and the pallium on Boniface, which he receives at the same time that Egbert

receives that of York 318

The hierarchies of England and of Germany sprung from the Roman

mission 319

The third journey to Rome of St. Boniface, A.D. 739 .... 319 xx CONTENTS

PAGE

The position of Boniface on the accession of Pope Zacharias, A.D. 741 320 His profession of obedience to this Pope as his legate . . .321 To him he declares that Carlomann wished him to hold a Council . 322 For which he requires the Pope's special authority . . . .322 The Pope answers in detail the requests of Boniface .... 322 Declares that Boniface is his legate for Bavaria and the whole of