Daily Reading for May 26 • Augustine, First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
‘Ite missa est,’ chanted the tall, olive-skinned priest; from the distinguished congregation came the response, ‘Deo Gratias.’ Echoing throughout not only the already old church of St Martin, Canterbury, but soon to ring out throughout England.
In the front of the congregation stood a strong, tall, blond man of middle age, by his side stood a dark, beautiful Gallic woman; both were wearing crowns on their heads.
St Augustine was the priest—Pope Gregory’s missionary to England; the King was Ethelbert, King of Kent, at his side was his wife, his Catholic Queen Bertha.
After Mass, Augustine said to his friend and fellow missionary, Lawrence, ‘This mission to England has started well, we have just celebrated Mass at Christmas in the year of our Lord 597, and it is only a short while ago that we landed at Ebbsfleet. This welcome and success in this city of Canterbury augurs well for it to be the centre of our mission to bring England to the Faith.’
From St Augustine of Canterbury by Michael A. Green (Janus Publishing Company, 1997).