Alcuin of York – whose liturgical and theological scholarship held influence throughout England and Europe, even as far as the courts of Charlemagne himself— was, undoubtedly, one of the most inspiring deacons of the Medieval period. Born to a noble family near York sometime between 730 and 740, Alcuin was given over at a young age to residency among the religious community at York Minster, where he was educated at the cathedral school. As a schoolboy, Alcuin was drawn to the study of Church history and biography, as well as Bible, though the range of his studies was vast and included both the sacred and the secular. As he grew older, Alcuin studied Christian apologetics, the importance of which he emphasized, saying, “my master told me to rise with all that was in me to the defense of the Catholic Faith if anywhere I should hear the springing up of strange sects, opposed to Apostolic doctrines.”[1]

Alcuin was ordained a deacon at the age of thirty-five and was also a professed monk. When his former instructor, Ælberht was appointed Archbishop of York, Alcuin was entrusted with the practical oversight of the church which the Archbishop had sponsored, as well as Ælberht’s extensive library and duties as master of the cathedral school. It was upon Ælberht’s death that Alcuin was dispatched to Rome on behalf of Ælberht’s successor as Archbishop of York. It was upon his return trip that Alcuin met, perhaps not for the first time, Charlemagne, who called Alcuin to serve as instructor to the Frankish royal family. Alcuin loved England dearly, but likely accepted the call to serve Charlemagne in part because of an understanding of the missionary needs of Charlemagne’s land.[2]

Within Charlemagne’s court, Alcuin was known both as a scholar and a faithful adviser to the king. Biographers are constant in noting that Alcuin spoke boldly to Charlemagne, even in disagreement, which others dared not attempt.

Alcuin remained with Charlemagne until he became abbot of Tours in 796. During his tenure at Tours, as well as at the royal court, Charlemagne was an energetic opponent of heresy and is also remembered for his work in Bible translation, creating a standardized and accurate text of the Latin Vulgate, as well as writing numerous commentaries, poems, and poetic essays on the Scriptures. His liturgical writings became a standard for the Latin Mass for over a thousand years.[3]

Above all, Alcuin was passionate for Christian formation and education. Duchett seems to sum up Alcuin’s nature well in saying that “two intense forces played upon him: the need to teach, to help, to inspire, and the need to make and keep friendships wherever he went.” Duchett goes on in describing Alcuin, using words so typical of the nature of the diaconate: “it may well seem that in his desire to fulfill what he believed to be his own vocation, he shrank from taking upon himself responsibilities, however excellent in themselves, which might hinder him from progress along his allotted path.” [4]

Alcuin’s words, reminiscent in tone to those of the Deacon Ephrem of Syria, describe for us his passion for proclamation of the Gospel and utter reliance on God’s mercy to provide him with the gifts to preach and teach according to God’s design:

Christ divine, strength and wisdom of the Father Almighty, Life, salvation, creator, redeemer, and lover of mankind, sole voice of god, kindly bestower of gifts, grant inspiration, grant words to this feeble poet, bedewing my dull heart with the waters of life that by you my tongue may proclaim your gifts; without you, no tongue can speak worthily about you.[5]

 

[1] Alcuin of York, Epp. IV, 332. Cited in: Eleanor Shipley Duchett, Alcuin, Friend of Charlemagne, (New York City: The Macmilllan Company, 1951), 20

Duchett, ibid, pp. 14-20.

Elizabeth Hartley, Alcuin and Charlemagne: The Golden Age of York, (York: Yorkshire Museum, 2001) 4

[2] Duchett, Alcuin, Friend of Charlemagne , 33-34.

Hartley, Alcuin and Charlemagne: The Golden Age of York, 7.

[3] Douglas Dales, A Mind Intent on God, (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2004), xv-xvi

[4] Duchett, Alcuin, Friend of Charlemagne, . 27

Dales, A Mind Intent on God, xiv

[5] Alcuin of York, “Poem on the Bishops, Kings, and Saints of the Church of York” cited in:Peter Goodman (ed.) Alcuin: The Bishops, Kings, and Saints of the Church of York, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1982) lines 1-7.