I. Summary
In his letter to Clovis, who was king of the Barbarian group, the Franks, the Bishop Avitus congratulates Clovis for making the wise decision to convert to Catholicism, therefore avoiding a fate empty of truth for himself and his descendants. While so many others choose the customs of their ancestors over Christian salvation, Avitus praises Clovis for having the “Divine foresight” (58) to be even better than his ancestors and secure a place in heaven for his people.
Avitus goes on to say how fitting it is that the baptism of Clovis and his men took place on Christmas Eve, and that while he was not there in person, he was there in spirit. He ponders for a moment the significance of the Franks as a powerful force “so feared by pagans” (59) now being united with the Church, and assures Clovis that with God now on his side, he and his men will continue to be prosperous.
As a last note, Avitus requests that Clovis help to spread the Catholic faith to distant pagan races in order to help God build up his party, telling him not to “be ashamed or find it troublesome” to send missions for this purpose.
II. Analysis
The conversion of Clovis and his army to Catholicism was a definitive victory for the Catholic Church, no doubt due, in part, to the strength and size of the Franks as a group. Clovis had already proven to be a powerful leader, uniting both the Salien Franks and the Ripuarian Franks under his rule and brought with him an army of over three thousand men to the Catholic Church (12). The conversion took place after Clovis vowed to convert if God made him victorious in battle, which not only would have given Catholicism a boost in its number of followers, but also in the reputation of Christ as a powerful force to have on your side.
In the first two paragraphs of his letter, Avitus harps on how heretics of all sorts try to hide behind the name of “Christian”, he praises Clovis for being too intelligent to fall for their trickery. He also implies that Clovis has made a wise decision in choosing salvation over pagan ancestral tradition and beliefs, which will give him the potential to be even greater than any ancestor of his could have hoped to be. By beginning the letter in this fashion, Avitus makes sure to reiterate the Church’s stance on heresy and pagan beliefs while being careful not to offend the Frank king for ever having taken an interest or having been associated with either of these things.
Another interesting character of religious life in the 6th Century revealed by this document is the difference in the way Paganism and heresy are viewed. In the last paragraph of the letter, when Avitus is telling Clovis to spread the faith to more distant races, he refers to these races of people as still living “in their natural ignorance, no seeds of heresy having corrupted” (59). This shows that Paganism is viewed more favorably by the Church, and the people who practice paganism as being better candidates for conversion than heretics. Paganism is seen as a “natural ignorance”, something that the pagan individual is less at fault for believing whereas heresy is something chosen in spite of being aware that the “true” path of Catholicism is an option.
Before Avitus requests that Clovis do his part in spreading Catholicism, he carefully reminds Clovis of his owed service to him as bishop of his new faith (59). Again, Avitus is very careful to word himself in a way that will not be offensive, and makes sure to surround his attitudes with lavish praise and compliments of Clovis and the ways in which he has already served the Church. Avitus also implies that Clovis can do his part to spread the faith as a way to help repay God for the debt of helping him and his people. I imagine that, having already pledged his allegiance to the Catholic faith, Clovis would have accepted this request dutifully as a good Christian, while also seeing it as a way to increase his own power and reign as a king. According to Volz, during the time of Clovis and his descendants, and with their assistance and direction, the church expanded in Europe and became a dominant force in society (12), indicating that Clovis did indeed follow up on Avitus’ request.
In his letter to Clovis, who was king of the Barbarian group, the Franks, the Bishop Avitus congratulates Clovis for making the wise decision to convert to Catholicism, therefore avoiding a fate empty of truth for himself and his descendants. While so many others choose the customs of their ancestors over Christian salvation, Avitus praises Clovis for having the “Divine foresight” (58) to be even better than his ancestors and secure a place in heaven for his people.
Avitus goes on to say how fitting it is that the baptism of Clovis and his men took place on Christmas Eve, and that while he was not there in person, he was there in spirit. He ponders for a moment the significance of the Franks as a powerful force “so feared by pagans” (59) now being united with the Church, and assures Clovis that with God now on his side, he and his men will continue to be prosperous.
As a last note, Avitus requests that Clovis help to spread the Catholic faith to distant pagan races in order to help God build up his party, telling him not to “be ashamed or find it troublesome” to send missions for this purpose.
II. Analysis
The conversion of Clovis and his army to Catholicism was a definitive victory for the Catholic Church, no doubt due, in part, to the strength and size of the Franks as a group. Clovis had already proven to be a powerful leader, uniting both the Salien Franks and the Ripuarian Franks under his rule and brought with him an army of over three thousand men to the Catholic Church (12). The conversion took place after Clovis vowed to convert if God made him victorious in battle, which not only would have given Catholicism a boost in its number of followers, but also in the reputation of Christ as a powerful force to have on your side.
In the first two paragraphs of his letter, Avitus harps on how heretics of all sorts try to hide behind the name of “Christian”, he praises Clovis for being too intelligent to fall for their trickery. He also implies that Clovis has made a wise decision in choosing salvation over pagan ancestral tradition and beliefs, which will give him the potential to be even greater than any ancestor of his could have hoped to be. By beginning the letter in this fashion, Avitus makes sure to reiterate the Church’s stance on heresy and pagan beliefs while being careful not to offend the Frank king for ever having taken an interest or having been associated with either of these things.
Another interesting character of religious life in the 6th Century revealed by this document is the difference in the way Paganism and heresy are viewed. In the last paragraph of the letter, when Avitus is telling Clovis to spread the faith to more distant races, he refers to these races of people as still living “in their natural ignorance, no seeds of heresy having corrupted” (59). This shows that Paganism is viewed more favorably by the Church, and the people who practice paganism as being better candidates for conversion than heretics. Paganism is seen as a “natural ignorance”, something that the pagan individual is less at fault for believing whereas heresy is something chosen in spite of being aware that the “true” path of Catholicism is an option.
Before Avitus requests that Clovis do his part in spreading Catholicism, he carefully reminds Clovis of his owed service to him as bishop of his new faith (59). Again, Avitus is very careful to word himself in a way that will not be offensive, and makes sure to surround his attitudes with lavish praise and compliments of Clovis and the ways in which he has already served the Church. Avitus also implies that Clovis can do his part to spread the faith as a way to help repay God for the debt of helping him and his people. I imagine that, having already pledged his allegiance to the Catholic faith, Clovis would have accepted this request dutifully as a good Christian, while also seeing it as a way to increase his own power and reign as a king. According to Volz, during the time of Clovis and his descendants, and with their assistance and direction, the church expanded in Europe and became a dominant force in society (12), indicating that Clovis did indeed follow up on Avitus’ request.