Although Alcuin of York was never officially canonized a saint, he is a large figure in the history of Catholicism in England and is admired for his life of holiness. He was born around the year 735 in the kingdom of Northumbria in Great Britain to a noble family. He entered the cathedral school in the city of York as a child and eventually worked for many years as the director of that school. While on a visit to Rome, he met Charlemagne. He became the director of Charlemagne’s palace school and a trusted advisor to him. Alcuin became priest in the later years of his life and he was also a Benedictine monk. Alcuin wrote many theological and dogmatic treatises, as well as a few grammatical works and a number of poems. In 796, he was made abbot of Marmoutier Abbey, in Tours, where he served until his death in the year 804. Without his relationship with such an important political figure like Charlemagne, and his influence on the nobles and clergy of the royal court, Alcuin played in a pivotal role in helping the study of philosophy thrive in medieval Europe.
Paul bids farewell to the Christian community at Ephesus in our first reading from Acts today. Paul spent several years preaching the Gospel in that community. Paul at first encountered great enthusiasm from the Jews there as he preached in their synagogue. Later, opposition arose in the synagogue, so he moved to the public hall where his message was heard by many. As he gets ready to depart, Paul makes preparations to go to Jerusalem, even though he knows that he may face violence or arrest upon his arrival there. It can be difficult to say goodbye. We give thanks for Paul and those first Fathers and Mothers of the Early Church who were pioneers in preaching Good News of Jesus Christ. The Lord is with us in our of our experiences: in our joys and our accomplishments, in our sufferings and our challenges, in our arrivals and in our goodbyes.
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