This fictitious dialogue based on the information deduced from the Epistles of Pope Gregory.
Augustine in the presence of His Holiness Pope Gregory on a very hot day of July 596.
Gregory: My beloved brother Augustine I hope you had a good journey, how are your other brothers?
Augustine: Thank you your Holiness. Our brother Bishop Protasius, who send you his love and obedience, welcomed us very well and provided us with all help. We were impressed by the zeal, devotion and with the good work of our brother Protasius. We had also a worm and genteel reception from Airgius, the governor of Aix. We were commended to our brother Abbot Stephen of the Abbey of Lérins; Your Holiness, the monks are full of spiritual ardor, living in peace and harmony. We joined them in praising the God Almighty. Abbot Stephen sends you these presents of spoons and plates for the use of the poor in Rome. He is aware of your Holiness care for the our brothers in Christ the poor and the sick in our city.
Gregory: Thanks to Almighty God who looks upon his faithful servants. I shall write letters to thank my brothers Protasius and Stephen; but tell me about the mission to the Anglis.
Augustine ..hesitating Your Holiness....
Gregory: May the Lord be with you brother Augustine, was there any thing wrong?
Augustine: We have heard many horrific stories of the barbarity of the Anglis, and hard fierce nature of the Saxon race. In addition many brothers began to realise the obstacles involved in our ignorance of the Saxon tongue. I am sorry to inform your Holiness that many of them are thinking to return to Rome and they are asking you to forgive them for their weakness.
Gregory: My beloved brother, let us remember how our beloved Apostle Paul rebuffed John Mark weakness for leaving them in Pamphylia (Act 13:13). Gregory opened the Holy Book and read: And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work(Act 15:37-38) . Our Lord taught us that the easy way is not the way to heaven. It is better not to begin good works than to have second thoughts and withdraw from those that are begun, you must my dearest brother, let your brothers zealously complete the good work you begun. Neither the toil of the Journey, nor the tongues of evil speakers should deter you; I am asking you and your brothers to carry out with all instancy and fervour what had begun by God's help, knowing that the greater the labour, the greater the reward of eternal glory. I assure you that the King of the Anglo-Saxon Ethelbert married our sister Bertha the daughter of King Charibert I . She is christian and he let her practice her faith with her chaplin Bishop Liudhard.
Augustine: Your Holiness I shall let my brothers know all these for the Great Name of our Lord.
Gregory: And I shall write to them, and.... I am appointing you as their Abbot.
Augustine: I do not deserve that, I shall be their servant.
Gregory: Are there any other things you need for your mission?
Augustine: Yes, your Holiness. Our brothers in Aix and Lérins told me that some of the Gualish bishops are not enthusiastic about the prospects of converting the pagan Angli.
Gregory: I shall give you letters to all the brothers you may encounter in your Journey: to our brothers Protasius of Aix, Vergillus of Arles and the governor of Aix. I will also give you letters to our fellow bishops in the Gaul, and I shall commend you and your brothers to our sister Brunhild and her two grandsons King Theodebert II and Theodoric II who govern Austrasia and Burgundy.They may help you in getting some interpreters to the mission.
Augustine left the chamber full of encouragement and determination. He went
back to Provence probably with presbyter Candidus,
whom he was sent by Gregory to administer the patrimony of the Roman church.
Back to Provence
