The
South has been blessed throughout her history by the presence of Christian
gentlemen, from Sir William Berkeley to Gen James Johnston Pettigrew to Donald Davidson. These are noteworthy figures in the history
of the [u]nited States, which in general produce rather flat, uninteresting
figures who are more interested in worldly affairs like money-getting and
politics than with the deeper things of the soul.
This
does not mean, however, that these gentlemen of Dixieland have reached the
pinnacle of human perfection. That
achievement belongs to the Saints of the Orthodox Church alone, a world of
completely unique teachings and experiences most of the South has been sundered
from until quite recently. What might a
Southern gentleman look like, then, if he attained the perfect healing of soul
and body by following the Orthodox Way?
The history of pre-Schism Western Europe offers us some strong hints in
the lives of her Orthodox Saints. Let us
look first at St Pepin of Landen:
St Pepin of Landen (+640)
[Mayor of the Palace to the Kings Clotaire
II.Dagobert, and Sigebert.] HE was son of Carloman, the most
powerful nobleman of Austrasia, who had been mayor to Clotaire I. son of Clovis
I. He was grandfather to Pepin of Herstal, the most powerful mayor, whose son
was Charles Martel, and grandson Pepin the Short, king of France, in whom begun
the Carlovingian race. Pepin of Landen, upon the river Geete, in Brabant, was a
lover of peace, the constant defender of truth and justice, a true friend to
all servants of God, the terror of the wicked, the support of the weak, the
father of his country, the zealous and humble defender of religion. He was lord
of a great part of Brabant, and governor of Austrasia, when Theodebert II. king
of that country was defeated by Theodoric II. king of Burgundy, and soon after
assassinated in 612: and Theodoric dying the year following, Clotaire II. king
of Soissons, reunited Burgundy, Neustria, and Austrasia to his former
dominions, and became sole monarch of France. For the pacific possession of
Austrasia he was much indebted to Pepin, whom he appointed mayor of the palace
to his son Dagobert I. when, in 622, he declared him king of Austrasia and
Neustria. The death of Clotaire II. in 628, put him in possession of all
France, except a small part of Aquitain, with Thoulouse, which was settled upon
his younger brother, Charibert. When king Dagobert, forgetful of the maxims
instilled into him in his youth, had given himself up to a shameful lust, this
faithful minister boldly reproached him with his ingratitude to God, and ceased
not till he saw him a sincere and perfect penitent. This great king died in
638, and was buried at St. Deny’s. He had appointed Pepin tutor to his son
Sigebert from his cradle, and mayor of his palace when he declared him king of
Austrasia, in 633. After the death of Dagobert, Clovis II. reigning in Burgundy
and Neustria, (by whom Erchinoald was made mayor for the latter, and Flaochat
for the former,) Pepin quitted the administration of those dominions, and
resided at Metz, with Sigebert, who always considered him as his father, and
under his discipline became himself a saint, and one of the most happy amongst
all the French kings. Pepin was married to blessed Itta, of one of the first
families in Aquitain, by whom he had a son called Grimoald, and two daughters,
St. Gertrude, and St. Begga. The latter, who was the elder, was married to
Ansigisus, son of St. Arnoul, to whom she bore Pepin of Herstal. B. Pepin, of
Landen, died on the 21st of February, in 640, and was buried at Landen; but his
body was afterwards removed to Nivelle, where it is now enshrined, as are those
of the B. Itta, and St. Gertrude in the same place. . . .
--Rev Alban Butler, https://www.bartleby.com/210/2/214.html
--
Holy
Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!
Anathema
to the Union!
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