Well, there is
Wulfstan: he left English sermons
Anselm: Eadmer says he preached in English (no copy to hand to give
reference)
Aelfric: he is a bit early, but the homiles formed a staple diet for
the student when I was one.
There was also a synod at Pistoia (much later - 15th cent) which was
condemned for saying (among other things) that on no account could
monks go out and preach.
When our congregation was restored, renewed, and (if necessary)
refounded - Rome likes to cover all possible eventualities - in
1606-19, monks had already been coming to England from Italian and
Spanish monasteries as missioners to England, with the support and
approval of both General Chapters and of Rome. This suggests that it
was not for them a new or astonishing idea. And it is of course
implicit in the Gospel.
Perhaps that does not say enough about the twelfth century; but I
think it is recorded of Aelred that he would preach to the people
too. Not sure about that one.
a.c.
Anselm Cramer OSB
Ampleforth Abbey, York
GB - YO6 4EN
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