Although Alcuin of York was never officially canonized a saint, he is an important 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 visiting Rome, he met the emperor 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. He was also a member of the Benedictines. 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, France where he served until his death in 804. In his relationship with the emperor Charlemagne and in 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 there. Paul at first encountered great enthusiasm from the Jews in Ephesus 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. 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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