Subj : May 28th - Gizur of Iceland B (AC)
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Wed May 27 2020 09:25:22

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

May 28th - Gizur of Iceland B (AC)
Died 1117.

Both Gizur's father and grandfather had been bishop of Iceland. Often
such dynasties degenerate to the point of offering a successor
unworthy of the position; however, Gizur was a man suited to be king,
Viking leader, or bishop. Bishop Gizur divided the nation into two
dioceses: Skaholt in the southwest and Holar in the north. He also
recorded Iceland's laws, which had previously only been handed on
orally. He may have been connected with Iceland's development of
sagas, poetry, and history, as well as the people's exploration of
Greenland and Newfoundland. Gizur introduced tithes and provided for
the poor, carrying out a taxation census to make this policy possible.

Gizur's family had been pivotal in the country accepting Christianity.
In 1000, the Icelandic Althing (assembly), composed of a pagan
majority and a Christian minority who had been converted through
English, Norwegian, and German settlers, had been deeply divided about
the future of the nation. The Althing decided that the country needed
to have only one religion to be determined by a single wise man chosen
by the assembly and accepted by all. The wise man decided that Iceland
must have Christianity for its religion and the Icelandic law. The
only concessions to paganism to be permitted were the exposure of
unwanted children to the elements, and the private practice of
sacrifice to the traditional gods. After a few years these concessions
were abolished.

Foreign priests were soon replaced by native ones after Gizur the
White, who had been one of the first to accept baptism, was
consecrated bishop. He may or may not have been a widower at the time
of his episcopal ordination=E2=80=94an unimportant matter except to those w=
ho
do not believe that an exception proves the rule. His son and grandson
followed in his footsteps. Reformers in the Church disapproved of
hereditary succession to episcopal offices, but it was the custom in
much of Scandinavia until the time of Saint Eystein of Trondheim.

Saint Gizur's cultus was approved for Reykjavik and Iceland (Farmer).


Of The Coming of Christ's Faith To Iceland.
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #33

Next it befell that Gizur the White and Hiallti his son-in-law came
out to preach Christ's law; (1) and all men in Iceland were
christened, and the Christian faith was made law at the Althing. And
Snorri the Priest brought it chiefly about with the Westfirthers that
Christ's faith was taken of them; and as soon as the Thing was over,
Snorri let build a church at Holyfell, and Stir, his father-in-law,
another at Under-the-Lava. Now this whetted men much to the building
of churches, (2) that it was promised them by the teachers, that a man
should have welcome place for so many men in the kingdom of Heaven as
might stand in any church that he let build. Thorod Scat-catcher
withal let make a church at his homestead of Frodis-water, but priests
could not be got for the serving at the churches, though they were
built, for in those days but few mass-priests there were in Iceland.


Saint Quote:
One great remedy against all manner of temptation, great or small, is
to open the heart and lay bare its suggestions, likings, and
dislikings before some spiritual adviser; for, ... the first condition
which the Evil One makes with a soul, when he wants to entrap it, is
silence.
--Fran=C3=A7ois de Sales

Bible quote:
Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding; so
that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him .
(Luke 12:36)



<><><><>
Two prayers:

Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all
that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to
acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly,
for the praise and glory of Thy Name.=C2  Amen.

<><>
O Mary, Mother of mercy and Refuge of sinners, we
beseech thee, be pleased to look with pitiful eyes upon
poor heretics and schismatics.=C2  Thou who are the Seat of
Wisdom, enlightened the minds that are miserably
enfolded in the darkness of ignorance and sin, that they
may clearly know that the Holy Catholic Church is the
one true Church of Jesus Christ, outside of which neither
holiness nor salvation can be found.=C2  Call them to the
unity of the one fold, granting them the grace to accept
all the truths of our holy Faith, and to submit themselves
to the Supreme Roman Pontiff, the Vicar of Jesus Christ
on earth; that so, being united with us in the sweet chains
of divine charity, there may soon be one only fold under
the same one Shepherd; and may we all, O glorious
Virgin, sing forever with exultation: Rejoice, O virgin
Mary, thou only last destroyed all heresies in the whole
world.=C2  Amen.


--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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