The Conversion Factor

Catholicism or
death? This is one of
the many decisions
youd have to make
living as a Saxon in
Charlemagne in 774.
During these difficult
times, the European
ruler of Charlemagne,
Charles the Great made
a law that forced
people to choose
between their religious
views and their lives.
Obviously, Catholicism
was a very important
aspect in Charles life
and he insisted that all
of his subjects be
Catholics as well. The
religion forced upon
them will make a
lasting imprint on the
lives of those who lived
in Charlemagne and its
history.
Right from the
time he was born,
Charles the Great was
bound to be a devout
Catholic, growing up in
the home of two very
religious parents, Pepin
the Short and
Bertrada.SN!
Charlemagnes strong
religious views resulted
in disagreements
between his people and
the Saxons. Through
the Saxon conquest,
Charles the Great

intended to convert all

of the Saxons in
Germany to
Christianity.SN2 This
seemingly small
argument ended up in
a war that would last
throughout all of his
reign in Medieval
Europe.SN3 By the 600s,
many of the Germanic
people had been
converted to
Catholicism.
Being converted
to Catholicism was no
easy matter, so its
pretty impressive
seeing how
Charlemagnes empire
reached as far as it did.
To be Catholic, one had
to go through three
forms of initiation into
the church: Baptism,
Confirmation, and the
Eucharist.4 After one
was captured they had
to be baptized. Baptism
is one of the seven
sacraments of the
Christian Church in
which one is
regenerated by being
bathed in holy water.SN5
The next step was
Confirmation is a
sacrament in which one
is given the Holy Ghost
in order to become a
perfect Christian and
Soldier of Jesus

Christ.SN6 The last of the

three initiation

Top 5 Frankish
Composers
5. Heriger of Lobbes
(925-1007)
Although none of his
compositions exist, written
records mention his antiphons
O Thomas Dydime and O
Thomas apostole.SN14
4. Hucbald
(840 or 850- 930)
Wrote the first example of
written counterpoint, Musica
enchiriadis.SN13
3. Notker the Stammerer
(840-912)
Best known for his hymn
Media Vita.SN12

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Notker
2. Wipothe
of Stammerer
Burgundy

(995-1048)
Wrote the famous Easter
sequence, Victimae paschali
laudes. SN15
1. Hildegard von Bingen
(1098-1179)
Composed Symphonia
armoniae celestium
revelationum, a collection of

sacraments was the

Eucharist, a ritual that
commemorates the
event known as Christs
Last Supper.SN7

During
Charlemagnes rule two
Popes came into power,
Hadrian I and Leo III.SN8
Charles the Great and
Hadrian I were such
close friends that, after
Hadrian I passed away,
Charles had a marble
monument of him built
and sent back to
Rome.9

source of early
Christian historySN11 and
a collection of writings
in which different
people recorded their
beliefs concerning the
significance of the life
of Jesus Christ. It is
ones duty as a Catholic
to read and follow and
live by the teachings
brought forth in these
holy writings.
The spreading of
Catholicism during
Charlemagnes rule
made a lasting impact
on the places affected
by his conquests. Many
of the places he
conquered then still
follow Catholicism
today. It amazes me to
see how one man can
make such a huge
impact on so many
peoples lives through
his religious beliefs.
Catholicism continues
to spread and be
taught to this day, and
thanks to him, Im sure

it will be for many

years to come.

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Stain glass windows are

common features on Catholic
churches

St. MarysAnnual Easter Egg Hunt

Hadrians monument
in St. Paters Basilica
in Vatican City
Catholics follow
the teachings of the
New Testaments.SN10
The New Testament
provides the primary

Every o n e of a l l ages i s welcome to

St. Marys Ca tho l ic Church on April 8 th for
our a nn ua l Easter egg hu n t a n d
potluck di nn er
to celebrate the
birth and

l ife

of Christ! Hope
to see you there!

Bookworms Corner: The Song of Roland

Opening in the eleventh century during the time of the Crusades, the holy
wars, this epic poem is not one of joy or light-heartedness, but of the courage and
struggle shown by Charlemagnes army during these times of war between them, the
Christians, and the Muslim
people.SN17 This powerful epic
focuses on one soldier in
particular; Roland, a commander
of King Charles rear guard.SN18
Rolands heroic story takes place
during the battle of Roncesvalles
and begins when he and his
companion, Oliver, catch sight of
QuickTime and a
the advancing Saracen army. SN19
decompressor
Seeing the size of their army,
are needed to see this picture.
they both become aware that
their small French rear guard was
significantly outnumbered.SN20
Oliver begs Roland to blow his
horn for help, but he refuses,
afraid to bring shame upon the
French name by doing so.SN21
They lose many soldiers to the
immense strength of the Saracen
army before Roland finally gives
Illustration of the Song of Roland
makes the decision to call for the
SN2
King. Before he does, he is interrupted by Oliver, angered as a result of the pride that
had kept his companion from doing so earlier. 23 The argument is brought to an end by
Turpin the Archbishop, who reasons with them, telling them that they are basically
wasting time quarreling.SN24 Finally, Roland blows his horn and the call reaches
Charlemagne, but not soon enough. By the time King Charles arrives in Roncesvalles,
they had all fallen to the Saracen army.
The Song of Roland strikes me as a story of not only great heroism, but a
vivid portrayal of medieval life in these times of war. I am impressed by the way the
author depicted this scene in such a realistic manner and added the aspect of the
hero losing in the end. Or does he lose? When a hero wins, does he really achieve
everything he couldve? By bringing about the loss of the hero, the author teaches
the reader much more than they would have if they had won. It may not be great on
the heros part, considering he died, but we can choose to learn from his mistakes,
so why not take that opportunity?
I highly recommend this book to anyone fond of stories of morality, battle, or
courage. This epic is one of great impact and moral responsibility that applies to
people of all ages and from anywhere in the world. You will cry, you will cheer, and

you will cringe for the lives of these poor men, but the unsettling part is- you just
cant stop reading.

Endnotes
1

(David W. Koeller)

(H.E. Marshall)

(John France)

(Cynthia Stewart)

(W. Fanning)

(T. Scannell)

(Eucharist)

(Mark Nickens One Christmas Day)

(Mark Nickens One Christmas Day)

10

(A. Durand)

11

(A. Durand)

12

(F. Kampers & K. Lffler Blessed Notker)

13

(J. Otten)

14

(Michel Huglo "Herigerus [Hriger]")

15

(P. Schlager)

16

(Fiona Maddocks 194)

17

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 694)

18

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 694)

19 (

Holt, Rinehart & Winston 694)

20

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 694)

21

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 694)

22

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 695)

23

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 695)

24

(Holt, Rinehart & Winston 696)

Citations
Scannell, T.. Confirmation. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-29-2012.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04215b.htm
A. Durand. The New Testament. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-29-2012.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14530a.htm
A. Durand. The New Testament. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-29-2012.
Fanning, W.. Baptism. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-29-2012.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm
France, John. The Composition and Raising of the Armies of Charlemagne in Journal
of Medieval Military History. B. Bachrach, (2002)
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Holt, Rinehart & Winsten. World Literature. New York: Harcourt School, 1997
Huglo . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. London: Macmillan, 1980.
Kampers, F & Lffler 9.er. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-30-2012
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11125b.htm
Koeller, David W. Charlemagne 768-814. 10-26-2012.
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/WestEurope/Charlemagne.html.
Maddocks, Fiona. Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age. New York:
Doubleday, 2001.
Marshall H.E. The Reign of CharlemagneThe Beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.
10-28-2012. http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-books.php?
Dir=books&author=marshall&book=sketches&story=charlemagne
Nickens. Mark Charlemagne: A Funny Thing Happened One Christmas Day. 10-292012. http://www.christiantimelines.com/charlemagne.htm

Nickens, Mark. Charlemagne: A Funny Thing Happened One Christmas Day. 10-292012. http://www.christiantimelines.com/charlemagne.htm
Otten, J. Counterpoint. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-30-2012.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04436a.htm
Scannell, T.. Confirmation. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 10-29-2012.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04215b.htm
Schlager, P. Wipo. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15660a.htm