Born to English nobility in 730, Alcuin of York was educated in a religious school, became a Benedictine monk, and was ordained a deacon. His wisdom, knowledge, and piety were so well-known that in 781 Emperor Charlemagne put him in charge of the cultural and educational reforms over all of Europe. Embracing the Church’s teaching that man is a body-soul composite, Alcuin knew that reforms must integrate being, knowing, and acting, and his reforms incorporated the Catholic faith’s unity of doctrine, catechesis, and liturgy. This blending of faith and culture is known as the establishment of Christendom, the standard of society that lasted for almost 1,000 years.
CHALLENGE
One of the things Blessed Alcuin of York did was to establish places called “scriptoriums” where ancient Christian texts would be meticulously hand-copied. This resulted in the development of cursive handwriting to speed the process. The Catholic faith’s rich history is full of prayers and devotions, but many are forgotten. Today, search through out-of-print books on the internet and resurrect an old prayer or devotion to add to your prayer life.
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Deepen your love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus! The Sacred Heart Book of Devotions is full of prayers, litanies, meditations, and hymns that will enflame your love for the Sacred Heart!
