Alfred the Great, Warrior/Peacemaker
Psalm 41, 52 • Psalm 44
Ecclus. 19:4-17 • Rev. 11:1-14 • Luke 11:14-26
Recently, the priests at Washington National Cathedral have been leading us in the prayer of St. Francis every day during the Service of Morning Prayer and Meditation. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace….” Today’s lectionary readings are not conducive to thoughts of peace, so I’ve chosen instead to write about King Alfred, whose death on October 26, 899, we commemorate in our Episcopal Church’s “Lesser Feasts and Fasts,” the closest thing we have to a calendar of Saints’ Days.
Some 400 years after the Anglo-Saxons had invaded Britain and driven out the Christian Celts, the Anglo-Saxons, now Christian themselves, were being invaded and rapidly conquered by another band of pagan raiders, the Danes. Alfred, not in good health from years of relentless fighting, but still a formidable military leader, broke the Viking stronghold in 878 and negotiated a treaty with the Danish leader wherein the Danes could hold the northeastern portion of England if they would agree to become Christian — co-religionist allies with their Christian neighbors to the south.
Once peace was secured, Alfred was able to devote himself to his great love, learning, both for himself and his people. By his own efforts and those of scholars he brought in, the writings of Boethius, Augustine of Canterbury, and Gregory the Great were translated into Old English. His translation of the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England into Old English ensured the survival of one of the earliest lyric poems in English, Caedmon's Creation Hymn. (A modern translation of the poem, by John DuVal, has been set to lovely music for St. Paul’s choir by our own Linda Jones.) Considering his greatest responsibility the pastoral care of his people, Alfred added provisions to English law that protected the rights of ordinary citizens; he required literacy in those who held offices of authority in an effort to mete out justice fairly; and he encouraged education among parish clergymen, most of whom were too ignorant to understand the Latin they were repeating in their daily offices and liturgies. Alfred believed that God had entrusted him with both the physical and spiritual welfare of his people and that if the Christian faith failed during his reign, he was personally answerable to God.
Winston Churchill wrote of Alfred, “We discern [in him] a commanding and versatile intelligence, wielding with equal force the sword of war and of justice; … cherishing religion, learning, and art in the midst of adversity and danger; … and seeking always across the feuds and hatreds of the age a peace which would smile upon the land.” As I write this reflection on October 15th, I pray that God will give us leaders who will help our country overcome its feuds and hatreds to usher in an age of peace and justice for all.
Written by Kay DuVal
I look forward to the time when we are able to meet together again at St. Paul’s. Among other pleasures, perhaps we’ll have the joy of hearing the choir sing Linda’s and John’s anthem based on Caedmon’s Creation Hymn.