The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. As the main research library for the University of Oxford, it contains thirteen million printed items. Its special collection archive includes a tenth century document of manuscripts and drawings attributed to Dunstan of Canterbury (908-988). He could be called a “Renaissance Man,” despite living a half millennium before the Renaissance. He was a talented illustrator, a skilled musician, and a capable metalworker (he’s still venerated as the patron saint of jewelers and locksmiths!). The first page of this collection features a pen and ink drawing of Jesus holding a shepherd’s staff in his right hand and a book or tablet in his left hand. In the far-right corner is a small drawing of Dunstan kneeling at the feet of Jesus. Above him are the Latin words in his handwriting, “I ask you to defend me, Dunstan, that you might not permit the storms of Taemarus to swallow me.” Cape Taemarus was situated along the southern coast of Greece, which, according to Greek mythology, contained a cavern leading to Hades, the realm of the dead. I was amused that another pen and ink drawing in the collection depicts Dunstan pinching the devil’s nose with a pair of tongs! Dunstan was equally comfortable in church and court. He served as court advisor for numerous English kings and wasn’t shy about exercising his moral influence when kings went off the rails. He also brought much-needed reform to churches and monasteries destroyed by Viking raids. His prayer offered here is dense and full of biblical images for our Triune God who bestows mercy on us far beyond our deserving:
Dunstan of Canterbury
O Christ, enthroned as King above, whom the nine orders of angels in their beauty praise without ceasing, deign Thou upon us, thy servants, ever to have mercy.O Christ, whom Thy one only Church throughout the world doth hymn, O Thou to whom the sun, the moon, and stars, the land and sea, do service ever, do Thou have mercy.
O Christ, those holy ones, the heirs of the eternal country, one and all with utter joy proclaim Thee in the worthiest strain: do Thou have mercy upon us.
O Lord, O gentle Son of Mary free, O King of Kings, blessed Redeemer, upon those who have been ransomed from the power of death, by Thine own blood, ever have mercy.
O noblest unbegotten, yet begotten Son, having no beginning of age, yet without effort (in the weakness of God) excelling all things, upon this Thy congregation in Thy pity, Lord have mercy.
O Sun of Righteousness, in all unclouded glory, supreme dispenser of justice, in that great day when Thou shalt strictly judge all nations, we earnestly beseech Thee, upon this Thy people, who here stand before Thy presence, in Thy pity, Lord, then have mercy upon us. AMEN.
Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts.
“An Anglo-Saxon Renaissance Man: St. Dunstan.” Medieval Manuscripts Blog.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.