Course 3, Chapter 31

Christianity preserved and propagated. — Eighth General Council. — Conversion of the Russians and Normans — Foundation of the Abbey of Cluni. — Ninth and tenth Centuries.

1. What afflicted the church towards the close of the nintn century?

Towards the close of the ninth century tho church was afflicted bv the schism of Photius. Ph«>-

tius was a man of great influence and full of pride; he drove St. Ignatius, patriarch of Constantinople, from liis see, and usurped it himself, although only a simple layman.

2. What did the sovereign pontiffs do?

The sovereign pontiffs wrote to the emperor in order to put an end to this scandal. The eighth general council was assembled at Constantinople. Photius was condemned, and Ignatius recognized as the sole lawful pastor. Order was again established; but in the minds of some turbulent spirits there remained a discontent, which at a later period gave rise to the schism of the Greeks.

3. How was the church consoled?

The church was consoled by the conversion of the Russians, a barbarous people, who appeared in the north of Europe, and who were already menacing the provinces of the empire. A holy bishop set out to preach the gospel to them, but the Russians demanded a miracle before they would be converted.

4. What was the miracle V

They required of him to throw the book of Gospels into a large fire which themselves had made, promising to become Christians if the book was not consumed. The holy missionary raised his eyes to heaven and implored the Lord to have pity on that people. The miracle took place, and the whole people demanded baptism.

5. What people was converted during the tenth century?

The Normans were converted during the tenth century. They were barbarians from the north, who ravaged Europe for more than a century.

6. Who preached the faith to them V

It was particularly the archbishop of Rouen who preached the faith to them. Rolla, their chief, consented to receive instruction in the Christian religion, which he embraced with sincerity, and established 26*

306 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

himself in the country now called Normandy. After his baptism he labored with zeal for the conversion of his followers, and his efforts were crowned with success

7. What new enemy had the church to combat?

Scandal was the new enemy which the church had now to combat. During the continued wars of the Normans great irregularities had crept in among the Christians and reached even the monasteries. The church wept, and God raised up great saints who again revived the spirit of virtue.

8. Who was the first?

The first was St. Odon, abbot of Cluni. Cluni was an abbey of the order of St; Benedict, situated near Macon. The saint established perfect regularity in the abbey, whence went forth the happy reform which restored the religious orders to their primitive holiness.