Augustine of Canterbury

Daily Reading for May 27 • Augustine, First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 (transferred)

Reassured by the encouragement of the blessed father Gregory, Augustine and his fellow-servants of Christ resumed their work in the word of God, and arrived in Britain. At this time the most powerful king there was Ethelbert, who reigned in Kent. . . .To the east of Kent lies the large island of Thanet. . . .It was here that God’s servant Augustine landed with companions, who are said to have been forty in number. At the direction of blessed Pope Gregory, they had brought interpreters from among the Franks, and they sent these to Ethelbert, saying that they came from Rome bearing very glad news, which infallibly assured all who would receive it of eternal joy in heaven and an everlasting kingdom with the living and true God. . . .After some days, the king came to the island and, sitting down in the open air, summoned Augustine and his companions to an audience. . . .When, at the king’s command, they had sat down and preached the word of life to the king and his court, the king said: ‘Your words and promises are fair indeed; but they are new and uncertain, and I cannot accept them and abandon the age-old beliefs that I have held together with the whole English nation. But since you have traveled far, and I can see that you are sincere in your desire to impart to us what you believe to be true and excellent, we will not harm you. We will receive you hospitably and take care to supply you with all that you need; nor will we forbid you to preach and win any people you can to your religion.’ The king then granted them a dwelling in the city of Canterbury, which was the chief city of all his realm, and in accordance with his promise he allowed them provisions and did not withdraw their freedom to preach. . . .

As soon as they had occupied the house given to them they began to emulate the life of the apostles and the primitive Church. They were constantly at prayer; they fasted and kept vigils; they preached the word of life to whomsoever they could. They regarded worldly things as of little importance, and accepted only the necessities of life from those they taught. They practiced what they preached, and were willing to endure any hardship, and even to die for the truth which they proclaimed. Before long a number of heathen, admiring the simplicity of their holy lives and the comfort of their heavenly message, believed and were baptized. On the east side of the cit stood an old church, built in honour of Saint Martin during the Roman occupation of Britain. . . .Here they first assembled to sing the psalms, to pray, to say Mass, to preach, and to baptize, until the king’s own conversion to the Faith gave them greater freedom to preach and to build and restore churches everywhere.

From A History of the English Church and People by Bede, translated by Leo Sherley-Price (Penguin Books, 1968).

Past Posts
Categories