Closing the Frontier
Boniface
ST. BONIFACE was born at Crediton, in Devonshire. England, in the year 680. Some missionaries staying at his father's
house spoke to him of heavenly things, and inspired him with a wish to devote himself, as they did, to God. He entered
the monastery of Exminster, and was there trained for his apostolic work. His first attempt to convert the pagans in
Holland having failed, he went to Rome to obtain the Pope's blessing on his mission, and returned with authority to
preach to the German tribes. It was a slow and dangerous task; his own life was in constant peril, while his flock was
often reduced to abject poverty by the wandering robber bands. Yet his courage never flagged. He began with Bavaria
and Thuringia, next visited Friesland, then passed on to Hesse and Saxony, everywhere destroying the idol temples and
raising churches on their site. He endeavored, as far as possible, to make every object of idolatry contribute in some
way to the glory of God; on one occasion, having cut down an immense oak which was consecrated to Jupiter, he used
the tree in building a church, which he dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles. He was now recalled to Rome,
consecrated Bishop by the Pope, and returned to extend and organize the rising German Church. With diligent care he
reformed abuses among the existing clergy, and established religious houses throughout the land. At length, feeling his
infirmities increase, and fearful of losing his martyr's crown, Boniface appointed a successor to his monastery, and set
out to convert a fresh pagan tribe. While St. Boniface was waiting to administer Confirmation to some newly-baptized
Christians, a troop of pagans arrived armed with swords and spears. His attendants would have opposed them, but the
Saint said to his followers: "My children, cease your resistance; the long-expected day is come at last. Scripture forbids
us to resist evil. Let us put our hope in God: He will save our souls." Scarcely had he ceased speaking, when the
barbarians fell upon him and slew him with all his attendants, to the number of fifty-two.
Massacre at Verden
•
•
•
•
4500 captive Saxons put to death
Issue: refusal to convert
Saxon Wars, 772-804, under Charlemagne
Ordinances Concerning Saxony – a decree &
legal code for dealing with Saxons, including
capital punishment for refusal to convert, or
practicing pagan traditions
Gero Cross
• Cologne Cathedral,
Germany.
• Oak sculpture, life-size.
• Tenth century.
Brock and Parker
• The first known crucifix was made by a Saxon artist who carved a life-size
dead Jesus from oak. Called the Gero Crucifix it was produced in AD 965-70
and is displayed in the cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The ancient Saxons
worshipped trees and they were converted by Charlemagne’s troops at the
point of the sword.
• As Parker and Brock state: “The cross—once a sign of life—became for
them a sign of terror. Pressed by violence into Christian obedience, the
Saxons produced art that bore the marks of their baptism in blood.”
• In a supreme and terrible irony the humiliated Saxons identified with the
crucified Jesus and they saw their own wounds—physically and
spiritually—in his tortured figure. Interestingly enough, Carolingian church
authorities imprisoned and tortured Saxon theologians, who continued to
believe the Eucharist contained the heavenly Christ rather than the new
view that it was the judging crucified Christ.
• Brock and Parker draw political conclusions from the replacement of
Churches of Paradise with Churches of Crucifixion: “The Carolingians fused
church and state in new ways, altered the long-standing Christian
prohibition against the shedding of human blood, and made Christianity a
colonizing tool. They aligned the Cross with military victory and laid the
axe to the root of sacred trees.”
Calvary Images = medieval world
This famous crucifixion shows Mary Magdalene as a co-sufferer with Christ, collapsing in a
swoon, and John the Baptist as a dispassionate interpreter, pointing his finger to identify
the sacrificed Lamb of God on the cross.
Atonement Theology
• Anselm (d. 1109) and Aquinas (d. 1274)
• Ransom, satisfaction, penal (legalism, substitutionary)
• Anselm – satisfaction theology; support to holy war,
crusades; dedication to God most powerfully affirmed
in willingness to die in crusades.
• Abelard disagreed:
– Abelard argued that the atonement is a demonstration of
God's love that so moves sinners that they realize their
sinful rebellion and repent and respond in love to God. All
that is required is penitence. God himself does not have to
be satisfied or placated, through some sort of exchange or
sacrificial offering. He wants to forgive men their
transgressions. (moral-edifying)