Saints and Kings

St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.Ireland captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family.GodIreland Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. Ireland He died at Saul, where he had built the first church. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity

St. Gregory the Great Made Gregorian chant a standard form of music. Born to wealthy parents Feast Day Sept. 3 Well educated Patron saint: teachers, students, musicians, singers He advocated using local artistic expressions in liturgical celebrations. He advised Augustine of Canterbury to let the older temples remain standing, and to transform them into Christian Churches. Wrote guidelines for bishops to follow and take steps to straighten out the moral life of the clergy.

St. Hilda Founding abbess of the monastery at Whitby, which was chose as the venue for the Synod of Whitby. Her monastery was in the Celtic style. Important figure in the conversion of England to Christianity Skilled administrator and teacher. Gained reputation for wisdom that kings and princess sought her advice. Legend says that when sea birds fly over the abbey they dip their wings in honor of St. Hilda. Legend tells of a plague of snakes which Hilda turned to stone – supposedly explaining the presence of ammonite fossils on the shore. At age 33 she entered Chelles monastery in France, where her sister was a nun. At the request of St. Aidan, she returned to Northumbria and became abbess of Hartlepool. Trained five bishops. Had a deadly fever that lasted seven years.

St. Boniface Through his efforts to reorganize and regulate the church of the Franks he helped shape Western Christianity, and many of the dioceses he proposed remain until today. He cut down a tree dedicated to a pagan God and used the wood to build a church. He was martyred in Frisian. His remains were returned to Fulda, where they rest in a sarcophagus, which became a site of pilgrimage. Legend has it, he invited the Christmas tree. His baptismal name was Winfrid, and born into a Christian family of noble rank.

King Clovis The first king of Franks to unite Frankish tribes. First catholic king to rule over France Converted to Catholicism. Opposed the Arian Christianity. Considered the founder of the Merovingian Dynasty He married Christian Burgundian princes Clotilde. He had four sons who were weak rulers. Baptized by St. Remigius (Remy).

St. Columban Irish missionary An old woman told him to go to a country with girls that were not beautiful when he was trying to stay holy. Wanted to lead a disciplined life, tempted by girls so he left. No one knows exact birth date, about 559 Founded many monasteries in France, Switzerland, and Italy. Received Comgall’s permission to spread the Gospel in Europe. He became a teacher in the monastic school at the monastery of Bangor in north Ireland. Because he reproved a local king for his immoral life, he was expelled from Burgundy.

St. Augustine of Canterbury He was considered the “Apostle to the English.” Known as Austin Helped the growth of the church by consecrating temples into Christian worship places and turning pagan festivals into feast days of martyrs. Before his death, he consecrated Laurence of Canterbury as his successor to ensure an orderly transfer of office. Was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. He chose Augustine and thirty monks to make the unexpected, and dangerous, trip to England.

Charles the Great (Charlemagne) son of Pepin crowned emperor by Pope Leo III his crowning was viewed as insult to emperor in Constantinople king of franks Military leader strong felt it was his responsibility to support the welfare of the church Although there are no contemporary portraits, Einhard's description of the Frankish leader gives us a picture of a large, robust, well-spoken and charismatic individual. Einhard's description Charlemagne was married a total of five times and had numerous children. Charlemagne was not a man of letters, but he understood the value of education and saw that it was in serious decline. He sponsored monasteries where ancient books were preserved and copied. He reformed the palace school and saw to it that monastic schools were set up throughout the realm.monastic schools