In the late sixth and early seventh centuries, Augustine converted the Anglo-Saxon pagans of the nation to Catholicism while founding the renowned See of Canterbury under the guidance of Pope Saint Gregory the Great.
It is impossible to determine Augustine's exact birthdate, and nothing is known about his early years. He was probably born into an aristocratic family in Rome and became a monk when he was a young man. The community he joined had recently been created by a Benedictine monk called Gregory, who would later become Pope and be known as St. Gregory the Great. Gregory and Augustine's friendship had far-reaching historical ramifications, as the Pope eventually sent his fellow monk to evangelize England.
Pope Gregory began developing a strategy for the conversion of the English people in 595, five years into his 14-year pontificate. The early Celtic settlers of England had already preached and accepted the Catholic faith, but starting in the middle of the fifth century, Anglo-Saxon invaders took control of the nation. These invaders rejected Christianity and were not persuaded by the few isolated Celtic Christians who remained steadfast in their faith. Therefore, much of England needed to be evangelized again.
The Pope assigned this mission to a group of about forty monks, including Augustine, who would represent the delegation and communicate on its behalf. Though he was not formally designated as its leader at the time, he eventually took on the post with Gregory's support. In June 596, the team departed for England, but after hearing terrifying tales about the Anglo-Saxons, a few missionaries lost their courage. In the end, Augustine went back to Rome, where the Pope gave him more counsel and encouragement.
The missionary-monks arrived at their port of departure and sailed for England in the spring of 597 after being persuaded to carry on. Upon their arrival, they were granted a meeting with King Ethelbert of Kent, a pagan monarch whose Christian wife, Queen Bertha, was of Frankish descent. Using an interpreter to communicate with the king, Augustine delivered a clear and compelling exposition of the gospel message, emphasizing Christ's offer of eternal life and the world's redemption.
Later on, Ethelbert would become a Catholic, and he would even be declared a Saint. However, his first reaction to Augustine's sermons was simply ambivalent: he would treat the missionaries with kindness and allow them to spread their message without any limitations. The monarch eventually turned into a kind supporter of the monks, despite his initial conflicting feelings. After making a grand entrance into Canterbury in a procession carrying an image of Christ and the Cross, they settled there.
As they had done in Italy, the Canterbury community followed the Rule of St. Benedict while simultaneously carrying out their mission by preaching throughout the surrounding area. King Ethelbert was successfully converted by Augustine and his companions, and following her husband's baptism, Queen Bertha also developed a stronger zeal for the church. After making his way to Gaul, Augustine was installed as an English Church bishop. In December of 597, more than ten thousand individuals were actively pursuing baptism from the missionaries.
Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and the other Catholic missionaries were still receiving guidance from Pope Gregory through written correspondence. In 604 both Pope Gregory and St. Augustine passed away.
Despite his inability to resolve some conflicts with the local Celtic bishops, Augustine had established the faith firmly among the Anglo-Saxons. Until it split into two during the sixteenth century, Canterbury remained the leading cathedral of English Catholicism for centuries.
The Catholic Church celebrates Saint Augustine of Canterbury, an Italian Benedictine monk who became known as the "Apostle of the English," on May 27.
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