Editing Ansgar (section)

==Visions==
[[File:Peiffer - St. Ansgar - Trostbrücke Hamburg cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Saint Ansgar statue in Hamburg]]
Although a historical document and primary source written by a man whose existence can be proven historically, the ''[[Vita Ansgari]]i'' ("The Life of Ansgar") aims above all to demonstrate Ansgar's sanctity. It is partly concerned with Ansgar's visions, which, according to the author Rimbert, encouraged and assisted Ansgar's remarkable missionary feats.

Through the course of this work, Ansgar repeatedly embarks on a new stage in his career following a vision.  According to Rimbert, his early studies and ensuing devotion to the ascetic life of a monk were inspired by a vision of his mother in the presence of Mary, mother of [[Jesus]].  Again, when the Swedish people were left without a priest for some time, he begged King Horik to help him with this problem; then after receiving his consent, consulted with Bishop Gautbert to find a suitable man. The two together sought the approval of King Louis, which he granted when he learned that they were in agreement on the issue. Ansgar was convinced he was commanded by heaven to undertake this mission and was influenced by a vision he received when he was concerned about the journey, in which he met a man who reassured him of his purpose and informed him of a prophet that he would meet, the [[abbot]] [[Adalard of Corbie|Adalhard]], who would instruct him in what was to happen.  In the vision, he searched for and found Adalhard, who quoted to him "Islands, listen to me, pay attention, remotest peoples" ([[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] 49:1). Ansgar interpreted this as showing God's will that he go to the Scandinavian countries as "most of that country consisted of islands, especially when Adalhard added "I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6), since the end of the world in the north was in Swedish territory.<ref name=rimbert>{{cite web|last=Rimbert|title=Life of Anskar, the Apostle of the North, 801–865|url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/anskar.asp|work=Medieval Sourcebook|publisher=New York: Fordham University|access-date=2012-07-18}}</ref>