Chapter 29

At this time, the most noble English kings Oswy of the Northumbrians and Egbert of the Kentish folk conferred together on the state of the Church of the English; for Oswy, although educated by the Irish, was fully aware that the Roman Church was the Catholic and Apostolic Church.¹ With the choice and approval of the holy Church of the English, the two kings accepted the priest Wighard, one of Archbishop Deusdedit’s clergy, a good man well fitted to be a bishop, and sent him to Rome to be consecrated bishop, so that, when he had received the rank of Archbishop, he could consecrate Catholic bishops for the churches of the English throughout Britain. Wighard arrived in Rome, but died before he could be consecrated; and the following letter was sent to Oswy in Britain:

‘To our son, the most excellent Lord Oswy, King of the Saxons, from Bishop Vitalian, servant of the servants of God.

‘We have read Your Excellency’s welcome letter, in which we recognize your very sincere devotion and fervent desire for eternal life. And we know how you have been converted to the true and apostolic Faith by the guiding hand of God, and trust that, as you now reign over your own nation, so you will one day reign with Christ. Your nation is fortunate to have a king so wise and devoted to the worship of God, who not only adores God himself, but labours day and night to lead all his people to the Catholic Apostolic faith, and to save his own soul. Who can help being glad to hear such encouraging news? And who will not be delighted at such works of devotion? For your nation has come to believe in Christ our mighty God in fulfilment of the words of God’s prophets, as Isaiah says: “In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand as an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek.” And again: “Listen, O isles, unto Me; and hearken, ye people from far.” And a little later he says: “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” And again: “Kings shall see, princes also shall arise and worship.” And later: “I have given thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth and possess the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.” And again: “I, the Lord, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.”

‘Here you may see, most excellent son, how clearly it is prophesied, not only of you but of all nations, that they shall believe in Christ the Maker of all things. It must therefore be the task of Your Majesty, as a living member of Christ, always to observe the holy precepts of the Prince of the Apostles, both in keeping Easter, and in everything transmitted to us by the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, who, as the two heavenly bodies light the world, give daily light to their teaching to the hearts of all believers.’

And after some observations on the keeping of one true Easter throughout the world, the Pope continues:

‘In view of the lengthy journey involved, we have not yet been able to discover a man wholly suitable to be your bishop, as you request in your letters. But as soon as such a man can be found, we will give him instructions and send him to your country, so that under God’s guidance, through his own witness and the teachings of God, he may uproot the tares sown by the Enemy throughout your island. We gratefully acknowledge the gifts sent by Your Highness to the blessed Prince of the Apostles in tribute to his immortal memory, and pray for your safety together with the Christian clergy. But the bearer of your gifts has departed this life, and is buried in the Church of the Apostles. We are deeply distressed that he should have died here. We have directed, however, that blessings of the Saints –that is, relics of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of the holy martyrs Laurence, John, and Paul, Gregory and Pancras – be given to the bearers of this letter for delivery to Your Excellency. By the same bearers we send to our spiritual daughter, your queen, a cross made from the fetters of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul with a golden key. Learning of her pious zeal, the entire apostolic see rejoices with us as greatly as her holy deeds shine and blossom in the sight of God. We trust that Your Highness will soon fulfil our hope, and dedicate your whole island to Christ our God. For assuredly you have as your protector the Redeemer of the human race, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will support all your efforts to draw together a new people in Christ, and establish there the Catholic and Apostolic Faith. For Scripture says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”; and you assuredly seek, and will obtain what we too desire, that is, the conversion of all your islands. We greet Your Excellency with fatherly affection, constantly praying that God of His mercy will assist you and yours in all good works, so that you may reign with Christ in the world to come. May Heaven’s grace preserve your Excellency in health.’

The next book will provide a more suitable place to tell who was actually discovered and consecrated in place of Wighard.