PS Bede, Ecclesiastical History Flashcards
Who sent Augustine with several other God-fearing monks to preach the word of God to the English nation?
Pope Gregory
Where did King Ethelbert grant the monks a place to stay?
Canterbury
What were the monks carrying when they approached the king and later the city?
A silver cross as their standard and the likeness of Jesus Christ painted on a board
What was the life of the monks like described in Bede’s account?
Emulated the life of the apostles and the primitive church
1) constantly at prayer
2) fasted and kept vigils
3) preached the word of life to whomsoever they could
4) regarded worldly things as of little importance, and accepted only the necessities of life from those they taught
5) practiced what they preached, and willing to endure hardships and even die for the truth which they proclaimed
What were some instructions Pope Gregory gave to Augustine and his monks after much consideration of the affairs of the English?
1) Temples of the idols among the people should not be destroyed and dedicated to the worship of the true God; the idols are to be destroyed but the temples themselves are to be aspersed with holy water, altars set up in them, and relics deposited there.
2) Replace the custom of sacrifice with a day of Dedication or the Festival of the holy martyrs whose relics are enshrined there; no longer to sacrifice beasts to the Devil but they may kill them for food to the praise of God, and give thanks to the Giver.
