His rejection by the work, and founded the monastery afterwards known as the abbey of St. Gall. We have already referred to the work of Columbanus amongst the Franks (see above, p. 189 ff.). When he was driven away from Luxeuil by Brunichildis he refused the invitation of the king of Neustria to settle in his dominions and was persuaded by Theudebert II, whom he visited at Metz in 610 A.D., to attempt the conversion of the Alemanni. Accompanied by a few disciples who had followed him from Luxeuil he embarked on the Rhine and, having reached Lake Zurich, he stayed for awhile at Tuggen at the head of the lake. His chief assistant was a fellow-countryman of his own named Gall, who was able to preach in the language of the Alemanni as well as in Latin.1 The Irish impetuosity of himself and his companions added to the difficulties with which they had to contend in dealing with the heathen Alemanni and Suevi, and prevented them from making any attempts to win their affections or to soften the rigour of their preaching by a display of sympathy. When, for example, the Alemanni, who lived on the Alemanni. upper Rhine, produced a barrel containing ten gallons of beer which they proposed to drink in his honour, Columbanus, if we may believe the statement made by his biographer, breathed upon the barrel, with the result that it forthwith burst asunder with a loud crash. It is hardly to be wondered at that the Alemanni rejected his message and forced the missionaries to depart. Leaving the Lake of Zurich, they settled 1 "Non solum Latini sed etiam barbarici sermonis cognitionem non parvam habebat." at at Bregenz, where they found a Christian chapel that He settles had been dedicated to St. Aurelia, to the ruined walls Bregenz. of which were fixed three brazen images. "These images," said the people, "are our ancient gods, by whose help and comfort we have been preserved alive to this day." Gall, the companion of Columbanus, who was able to speak to the people in their own tongue, urged them to abandon the worship of these idols and to serve the true God. Then in the sight of all Columbanus seized the idols, battered them into fragments and threw the pieces into the lake. The people offered no active opposition and shortly afterwards Columbanus and his companions, having sprinkled the building with holy water and having chanted a psalm, dedicated it afresh to God and to St. Aurelia. of its The fact that this church or oratory had previously Hostility been dedicated to St. Aurelia suggests that they were people. not the first to act as missionaries in that district. The hostility of the inhabitants, which had been aroused by the forcible destruction of their idols, resulted in the murder of two of the missionaries who were waylaid and killed in an ambuscade, whereupon Columbanus determined to seek once again a new sphere of work. "We have found," he said, "a golden cup, but it is full of poisonous serpents. The God whom we serve will lead us elsewhere." 1 His determination to leave Bregenz was strengthened by the news which reached him of the death of Theudebert. The well-known St. Gall on legend relating to the conversation that Gall is said to stance. have overheard between the demon of the mountains 1 "invenimus concham auream, sed venenatis serpentibus plenam." Vita Galli, c. 8, 9. Lake Con Departure of Columbanus. and the demon of the waters, which is recorded by his biographer, is worth recording as it helps us to appreciate the reality and intensity of the struggle which the missionaries of this period believed themselves to be waging against the spiritual powers of evil, and their belief in the omnipotent power of prayer. While Gall was engaged one night in fishing on Lake Constance "he heard the demon of the mountain call to the demon of the waters. 'Here I am,' answered the latter. Arise, then,' said the first, and help me to chase away the strangers who have expelled me from my temple; it will require us both to drive them away.' What good should we do?' answered the demon of the waters, here is one of them by the waterside whose nets I have tried to break but I have never succeeded. He prays continually and never sleeps. It will be labour in vain ; we shall make nothing of it.' Then Gall made the sign of the cross and said to them, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave these regions without daring to injure anyone.' He then hastened to land and awoke the abbot, who immediately rang the bells for nocturnal service, but before the first psalm had been intoned they heard the yells of the demons echoing from the tops of the surrounding hills, at first with fury, then losing themselves in the distance, and dying away like the confused voices of a routed army. 1 Prior to the departure of Columbanus from Bregenz, and while he was meditating missionary work amongst the Slavonic tribes to the north of Venetia, an angel appeared to him in a dream and, holding before him a 1 See Vita S. Galli, c. 4, 6, 7. Montalembert, Monks of the West, ii. 431. map of the world, indicated to him that Italy was to be the scene of his future labours. After the battle of Tolbiac (613) and the subsequent death of Theudebert his last link of connection with Gaul was severed, and he proceeded to carry out the intimation conveyed to him in his dream.2 66 66 at Dis On the departure of Columbanus for Italy Sigisbert, Sigisbert one of his disciples, built for himself a cell near the sentis. source of the Rhine which afterwards developed into the monastery of Dissentis. Thus," writes Montalembert, was won and sanctified, from its very source, that Rhine whose waters were to bathe so many illustrious monastic sanctuaries." 3 Whilst Sigisbert was building his cell he attempted to cut down an oak that was held sacred by the pagans, one of whom aimed an axe at his head. His assailant was, however, disarmed when Sigisbert made the sign of the cross, and the work of preaching and conversion proceeded without further interruption. Gall is said to have refused the bishopric of Constance offered him by the duke of the Alemanni, and the abbacy of Luxeuil, which a deputation of six Irish monks from this monastery besought him to accept. When Death of he died in 6464 the whole of the country inhabited by 646. the Alemanni had become Christian. 5 St. Gall, Another missionary named Fridolin, who was perhaps Fridolin. a Celt, and who worked amongst the Alemanni and in the Black Forest early in the sixth century, is said to have founded monasteries at Sackingen and Basle." 1 Vita, cap. xxvi. 2 See above, p. 221. The Monks of the West, ii. 456. 4 According tosome authorities, 629. See Vita Fridolini, M. Scrip. Rer. Merov. iii. pp. 354 ff. The life Hauck's Kirchengeschichte 6 See Deutschlands, i. 340 n. CHAPTER XII The BELGIUM In the times of the Romans the country which now constitutes Belgium was included in Gaul and was known as Gallia Belgica. Before the Christian era the Belgæ, a Celtic tribe, by which it was chiefly inhabited, had to a large extent driven out the Gauls. The Batavi and other tribes of Germanic origin subsequently invaded the country and during the fifth and sixth centuries, when the country was governed by the Franks, they formed the chief element of the population. In later times a number of more or less independent duchies were formed and eventually the country came under the rule first of Austria and then of Spain, becoming an independent country in 1598. After being united to Holland in 1815, Belgium became again independent in 1831. The Roman province of Belgica Prima included as its metropolis the city of Trèves, and it is probable that from this city came some of the earliest missionaries Early to Belgium. The unhistorical traditions relating to traditions. the development of Christianity in the district of Trèves are worth mentioning, as they at least suggest the probability that the Christian faith was preached here at a comparatively early date. 1 The Frisii, who chiefly inhabited Holland, occupied parts of the N.E. portion of Belgium. |