St Dunstan: He Was What's Wrong with His World

 Today we read about an interesting and very influential saint in the book In Caelo et in Terra. St Dunstan lived from 910 to 988AD. He was good at music, metalworks, and other assorted handicrafts. You'd think that would make him a lowly monk that copied the kind of manuscripts you see in the picture above. 

But no, he was very influential. He was made Archbishop of Canterbury, and was the advisor to many of the kings of England. One of them, named Edwy, banished him because he didn't like his advice regarding the king's bad habits. But the next king brought him back.

He opened schools, reformed the church throughout England (which had fallen into various forms of corruption. See? It's nothing new.), and was given a sign of his death by a vision of angels. He died shortly after with a prayer of thanksgiving.

You can read more about him here.

We can see from his life that political malpractice and corruption in the church are ancient problems. We continue to see the exact same problems today. And the solution is the same today, too. St Dunstan began with himself. He realized, like Chesterton, that what was wrong with the world in his time was he himself. He began at home, repenting of his own sins. Then he led with an example of holiness to help reform his church and his times. Let's try to do the same.

God, thanks for the example of this powerful and influential man. St Dunstan, pray for us.