Alcuin of York, Deacon, 804
Almighty God, who raised up your servant Alcuin as a beacon
of learning: Shine in our hearts, we pray, that we may also show forth your
praise in our own generation, for you have called us out of darkness and into
your marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Alcuin was an Englishman from York, born into a noble family
about 730, and educated by a pupil of Bede. Having become a deacon, he was made
head of the cathedral school at York around 770. In 781 he was asked by the
Emperor Charlemagne to become his minister of education. He accepted, and
established schools at many cathedrals and monasteries, and promoted learning
in every way he could. In the preceding years of constant wars and invasions,
many ancient writings had been lost. Alcuin established scriptoria, dedicated
to the copying and preservation of ancient manuscripts, both pagan and
Christian. That we have as much as we do of the writings of classical Roman
authors is largely due to Alcuin and his scribes. He is credited with the
invention of cursive script, in which the letters are connected for greater speed
of writing.