'En resumant l'histoire des efforts tentes pendant les soixante ans
ecoules depuis le debarquement d'Augustin jusqu'a la mort de Penda, pour
introduire le Christianisme en Angleterre, on constate les resultats que
voici. Des huit royaumes de la confederation Anglo-Saxonne, celui de
Kent fut seul exclusivement conquis et conserve par les moines romains,
dont les premieres tentatives, chez les Est-Saxons et les Northumbriens,
se terminerent par un echec. En Wessex et en Est-Anglie les Saxons a
l'ouest et les Angles a l'est furent convertis par l'action combinee de
missionnaires continentaux et de moines celtiques. Quant aux deux
royaumes Northumbriens' (Deira and Bernicia), 'a l'Essex et a la Mercie,
comprenant a eux seuls plus de deux tiers du territoire occupe par les
conquerants germains, ces quatre pays durent leur conversion definitive
exclusivement a l'invasion pacifique des moines celtiques, qui
n'avaient pas seulement rivalise de zele avec les moines romains, mais
qui, une fois les premiers obstacles surmontes, avaient montre bien plus
de perseverance et obtenu bien plus de succes.'[20] The only effort made
at that early period to introduce Christianity into the kingdom of the
South-Saxons was that of an Irish monk, Dicul, who founded a small
monastery at Bosham. It did not however prove successful.
There is something profoundly touching in the religious ties which
subsisted between England and Ireland during the seventh century, when
compared with the troubled relations of those two countries during many
a later age. If the memory of benefits received produces a kindly
feeling on the part of the recipient, that of benefits conferred should
exert the same influence on the heart of the bestower. To remember the
past, however disastrous or convulsed, is a nation's instinct, and its
duty no less, since a tribute justly due is thus paid to great actions
and to great sufferings in times gone by; nor among the wise and the
generous can the discharge of that patriotic duty ever engender an
enmity against the living: but there is a special satisfaction in
turning to those recollections with which no human infirmity can connect
any feeling save that of good will; and it is scarcely possible to
recall them in this instance without a hope that the sacred bonds which
united those two countries at that remote period may be a pledge for
reciprocated benefits in the ages yet before us. For both countries that
early time was a time of wonderful spiritual greatness. In noble rivalry
with Ireland England also sent her missionaries to far lands; and a
child of Wessex, St. Boniface, brought the Faith to Germany, by which it
was eventually diffused over Scandinavia, thus, by anticipation,
bestowing the highest of all gifts on that terrible race the Northmen,
in later centuries the scourge of his native land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account