St. Germanus of Auxerre

Germanus was born into a noble family in Gaul in the fourth century. He was well-educated as a child, then as a young man he went to Rome to study law. He practiced civil law in Rome and married a woman, Eustachia, from imperial circles. 

The emperor appointed Germanus back to Gaul, where he served a duke entrusted with the Gallic provinces. Germanus resided in Auxerre. He hung his hunting trophies in a certain tree which had once been a site of pagan worship. The local bishop, Amator (who would later be canonized) was enraged, as the hanging of trophies in that way and in that spot resembled a pagan practice. He had the tree cut down and burnt Germanus’ trophies. Fearing the duke and Germanus’ response, he fled to Rome.

After seeking permission from the pope, Bishop Amator returned, tonsured Germanus against his will, and told him to live as one destined to be an ecclesiastical successor. That day he also ordained Germanus a deacon. 

St. Botolph

St. Botolph was born in East Anglia in the 7th century into a noble Saxon family. He and his brother were educated at a local monastery and then sent to France for further study. There, the brothers became Benedictines.

Botolph’s brother stayed abroad, but Botolph returned to England, where he was permitted to build a monastery in Suffolk around 654. The Icanho monastery was on an island surrounded by tidal marshland, but the monks and hermits drawn to the location turned it into a productive center. Botolph was said to have expelled the swamps of their “devils” – in fact, he probably had the marshes drained for farmland, eliminating the “marsh gas” with its night glow.

On top of being abbot of the monastery, Botolph also served as a missionary in East Anglia, Kent and Sussex

Botolph died around 680. Originally buried at Icanho, his remains were moved in the tenth century after the monastery itself was destroyed in a Danish invasion in 870. Transferred several more times, his relics, along with those of his brother’s, were eventually brought to Thorney Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Cambridgeshire (though his head wound up in Ely and other body parts in Westminster).

St. Botolph is a patron of boundaries, travel, and farming. The four churches of London close to the city gates were named for him. His feast day in England is June 17.

In This Establishment

It’s been a bleak few weeks. Several large SCOTUS decisions dropped, along news of laws that, I imagine, will be challenged up to the Supreme Court. One in particular is the Oklahoma state superintendent mandating that the Bible be taught in every classroom in grades 5-12. This comes on the heels of Louisiana mandating that the 10 Commandments be displayed in every classroom.

The good faith argument is that the Bible is a historically relevant document, and understanding its contents and influence is important in areas such as literature and civics. Which, I agree. A basic understanding of Christian influence and Bible allusions can be a component of a solid foundation in certain subjects. But the good faith argument falls apart when the law states that it must be taught in every classroom (in math? in health?) and doesn't give specific context on how.

According to the superintendent is the Bible “a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization.” Yet the U.S. Constitution isn’t required in every class. It's an attempt to create a secular reason for the Bible to be taught in every classroom, thus claiming it's not a First Amendment violation. But what if your civic and religious beliefs are intertwined? In an interview with PBS NewHour, he said that he wanted to fight a “liberal” version of history. So this is really about establishing a version of history that he wants, which is a Christian nationalist one. And that Christianity being established is a specific form: there is a “right,” “government-endorsed” version of religion, and you’re either a “good” Christian falling in line or you’re an enemy attacking the faith.