Feast Day Of St. Dunstan Of Canterbury

Image from Early British Kingdoms.

Dunstan was born near Glastonbury in the southwest of England about the year 909, ten years after the death of King Alfred. During the Viking invasions of the ninth century, monasteries had been favorite targets of the invaders, and by Dunstan's time English monasticism had been wiped out. In its restoration in the tenth century, Dunstan played the leading role.
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(Glastonbury is one of the oldest Christian sites in England, and is associated in legend with King Arthur and his Court, with Joseph of Arimathea, and with other worthies. It has been said that the Holy Grail, the chalice of the Last Supper, is hidden somewhere near Glastonbury.) Under Dunstan's direction, Glastonbury became an important center both of monasticism and of learning. The next king, Edred, adopted Dunstan's ideas for various reforms of the clergy (including the control of many cathedrals by monastic chapters) and for relations with the Danish settlers. These policies made Dunstan popular in the North of England, but unpopular in the South.

Edred was succeeded by his sixteen-year-old nephew Edwy, whom Dunstan openly rebuked for unchastity. The furious Edwy drove Dunstan into exile, but the North rose in rebellion on his behalf. When the dust settled, Edwy was dead, his brother Edgar was king, and Dunstan was Archbishop of Canterbury. The coronation service which Dunstan compiled for Edgar is the earliest English coronation service of which the full text survives, and is the basis for all such services since, down to the present. With the active support of King Edgar, Dunstan re-established monastic communities at Malmesbury, Westminster, Bath, Exeter, and many other places. Around 970 he presided at a conference of bishops, abbots, and abbesses, which drew up a national code of monastic observance, the "Regularis Concordia". It followed Benedictine lines, but under it the monasteries were actively involved in the life of the surrounding community. For centuries thereafter the Archbishop of Canterbury was always a monk.

In addition, Dunstan was a musician, a bell maker, and a painter.

From the The Lectionary.

Readings:

Psalm 57:6-11 or 33:1-5,20-21
Ecclesiasticus 44:1-7
Matthew 24:42-47

PRAYER

Almighty God, who raised up Dunstan to be a true shepherd of the flock, a restorer of monastic life and a faithful counsellor to those in authority: give to all pastors the same gifts of your Holy Spirit that they may be true servants of Christ and all his people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

This is, for the most part, a recycling of my post from last year on the feast day. The glass is lovely, isn't it? The comments from last year are fascinating, if you'd care to read them.


In the comments, Lapin references this small self-portrait, which is from the website of the St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Brotherhood.

Mary Clara posted these lovely words in the comments. I believe that they are worthy of being brought into the light because they are so very right and true. My decision to quote her has nothing to do with her words being flattering to me - not in the least. Truly.

Mimi, I am very big on the priesthood of all the baptized, which can take so many forms, from emptying bedpans to doing biblical scholarship. In the past I think most lay ministry has been relatively private and even inarticulate. One of the great things about the internet and the blogosphere is that many more of us in the lay order can readily join in the theological conversation, offer homilies or reflections on the daily lectionary, post worship materials, comment on and issues worthy of attention, and so on. We are finding our voices. Our ordained clergy and bishops are our 'specialists' with their unique vocation and training and their sacramental role. In terms of preaching and teaching, they are like the paid professional soloists in many church choirs who help maintain the level of a parish's liturgical music. Backing them up are the unpaid volunteer singers, many of them also gifted and well-trained, who make up the bulk of the choir. Finally there are those who swell the sound from the congregation. Not a perfect analogy, but you see my point: All should take part, and together we should be able to make fine music! Our clergy in their lonely and risky work (see Elizabeth Kaeton's latest post as well as Lauren Gough's recent comments on several blogs) should be surrounded by a host of supportive voices (and under 'support' I include honest debate and disagreement, as well as poking fun) and by many writing hands sharing the work.

This is a time for all hands to be on deck, both in our beloved church and inour beloved country, and you, Mimi, are doing your part!

Thank you, Mary Clara!