THE BEGINNINGS OF
CHRISTIANITY
Providence College
Class schedule
•
Monks and missionaries at the
beginnings of Christianity.
Reading before the class:
P. Haffner, Early Christianity, chapter 11
“Monks and missionaries”.
Locations
Monks and Missionaries
Introduction
Monasticism (from Greek: μοναχός , a solitary person) is the ancient Christian practice of withdrawal from the world in order to dedicate oneself fully and intensely to the life of the Gospel, seeking union with Jesus Christ. The focus of monasticism is the process of perfection to which every Christian is called. This ideal is expressed everywhere that the things of God are sought above all other things. In other words, a monk or nun is a person who has vowed to follow not only the commandments of the Church, but also the counsels (i.e., vows of poverty, chastity, stability, and obedience). The words of Jesus Christ which are the cornerstone for this ideal are “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48).
Introduction
The ancient models of the modern Christian monastic ideal are the Nazarites and the prophets of Israel. A Nazarite was a person voluntarily separated to the Lord, under a special vow. Numbers 6:2-5 "If a man or a woman wishes to make a vow, the Nazirite vow, to vow himself to Yahweh, he will abstain from wine and fermented liquor, he will not drink vinegar derived from one or the other, he will not drink grape-juice or eat grapes, be they fresh or dried. For the duration of his vow he will eat nothing that comes from the vine, not even juice of unripe grapes or skins of grapes. As long as he is bound by his vow, no razor will touch his head; until the time for which he has vowed himself to Yahweh is completed, he remains consecrated and will let his hair grow freely."
Introduction
The prophets of Israel were set apart to the Lord for the sake of a message of repentance. Some of them lived under extreme conditions, voluntarily separated or forced into seclusion because of the burden of their message. The most frequently cited “role-model” for the life of a hermit separated to the Lord, in whom the Nazarite and the prophet are believed to be combined in one person, is John the Baptist. John also had disciples who stayed with him and, as may be supposed, were taught by him and lived in a manner similar to his own: “In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather loin-cloth round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” Matthew 3:1-4.
Introduction
The female role models for monasticism are the Most Holy Mother of God and the four virgin daughters of the Apostle Philip: Acts 21:7-9: “The end of our voyage from Tyre came when we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed one day with them. The next day we left and came to Caesarea. Here we called on Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who were prophets.”
Introduction
The monastic ideal is also modeled upon the Apostle Paul, who is believed to have been celibate: 1 Corinthians 7:7-8 "I should still like everyone to be as I am myself; but everyone has his own gift from God, one this kind and the next something different. To the unmarried and to widows I say: it is good for them to stay as they are, like me." But the supreme Prototype of all Christian monasticism, communal and solitary, is Jesus Christ Himself: Matthew 4:1-2 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the desert to be put to the test by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which He was hungry."
Introduction
Additionally, the earliest Church was a model for monasticism. The first Christian communities lived in common, sharing everything, according to Acts of the Apostles. Acts 2:42-45: “These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. And everyone was filled with awe; the apostles worked many signs and miracles. And all who shared the faith owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and distributed the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.”
The communities of
NITRIA (ca. 330), KELLIA
(ca. 338), and SCETIS (ca
330), south of Alexandria.
The site of Antony’s fort
on the Nile and his
hermitage on the Red Sea
(ca. 313)
Pachomius’ Nile-side
foundations in the
Thebaid (ca. 320):
completely cenobitic,
modelled on the Imperial
army.
Egyptian desert
The ancient monastic site of
NITRIA was founded by Amoun
in 330. Sadly, no archeological
remnants of Nitria exist. All
evidence of the original
monastic buildings has been
eradicated by modern
agriculture.
Kellia, also called The Cells, was
founded by Amoun in 338,
about six miles south of Nitria.
According to legend, Amoun
founded this hermit colony on
the advice and with with the
assistance of Antony. The
purpose of Kellia was to
provide a site near Nitria for
monks who desired greater
solitude.
Egyptian desert
An archeological plan of Kellia,
showing excavated sites and
(in green) the hydrological
danger from agriculture (90%
of the site has been
destroyed). The tiny black dots
are individual hermitages, of
which there were more than
1500 by the seventh century.
Egyptian desert
Typical 6th c. mud- brick
Hermitage at Kellia,
Paul of Thebes
• He was born c. 230 and died January 15, 341 • He is the very first Christian historically known to have been living as a monk.Paul of Thebes
As a young man, Paul fled to the Theban desert during the persecution of Decius and Valerianus in c. 250. He lived in the mountains of this desert in a cave near a clear spring and a palm tree, the leaves of which provided him with raiment and the fruit of which provided him with his only source of food till he was 43 years old, when a raven started bringing him half a loaf of bread daily. He would remain in that cave for the rest of his life, almost a hundred years later. St. Jerome relates the meeting of Saint Anthony and Paul, when the latter was aged 113. They conversed with each other for one day and one night. When Anthony next visited him, Paul was dead. Anthony clothed him in a tunic which was a present from Saint Athanasius and buried him, with two lions helping to dig the grave.
St
Anthony
of the
Desert
Saint Anthony the Great
He was born in to a wealthy family in upper Egypt about 254 AD. Also known as Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, and Anthony the Anchorite. One day after a teaching on Jesus saying to the people, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21), St. Anthony sold everything he owned, gave the proceeds to the poor, and left the city behind to live in the desert.
•
Began
his
career
by
practicing
the
ascetical
life
without
leaving
his
native
place.
He
took
up
his
abode
in
one
of
the
tombs
Conflicts
with
demons
and
beasts
had
much impact on him
At
age
35
Anthony
withdraw
from
the
habitations
of
men
and
retire
in
absolute solitude.
In
Del
el
Memum
,
he
found
an
old
fort
into
which
he
shut
himself,
and
lived
there
for
twenty
years
without
seeing
the
face
of
man
and
food
being
thrown
to him over the wall
Saint Anthony the Great
•
In
305,
emerged
from
his
retreat,
and,
to
the
surprise
of
all,
he
appeared
to
be
as
he was when he entered.
He
was
not
emaciated,
but
vigorous
in
body and mind.
Next
5
or
6
years
was
devoted
to
the
instruction of the monks.
Once
again
withdrew
into
the
desert
which
lay in between the Nile and the Red Sea
Near
the
shore
of
which
he
fixed
his
abode
on
a
mountain,
there
still
stands
the
monastery
that
bears
his
name,
Der
Mar Antonios
.
Saint Anthony the Great
Francesco Visioli, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Francesca Anile and
Stefan-Alexandru Panaite, “Traditional and Medical
Applications of Fasting” in Nutrients 2022, 14(3), 433;
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030433
Abstract
Fasting
has
been
practiced
for
millennia,
for
religious,
ethical,
or
health
reasons.
It
is
also
commonplace
among
different
species,
from
humans,
to
animals,
to
lower
eukaryotes.
Research
on
fasting
is
gaining
traction
based
on
recent
studies
that
show
its
role
in
many
adaptive
cellular
responses
such
as
the
reduction
of
oxidative
damage
and
inflammation,
increase
of
energy
metabolism,
and
in
boosting
cellular
protection.
In
this
expert
review,
we
recount
the
historical
evolution
of
fasting
and
we
critically
analyze
its
current
medical applications, including benefits and caveats.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/3/433
Fasting
•
He
lived
here
in
seclusion
for
the last 45 years of his life
He
left
seclusion
twice,
once
to
cross
the
desert
to
Alexandria
to
strengthen
Christian
martyrs
and
to
preach
against
the
Arians
in the close of his life
Became
close
friends
with
St.
Paul the hermit
He
is
said
to
have
died
at
age
105
in
356
at
Mount
Colzim
of
natural causes
His
grave
was
kept
secret
by
the
two disciples that buried him.
Saint Anthony the Great
Once
when
Saint
Anthony
was
traveling
in
the
desert
he
found
a
plate
of
silver
coins
in
his
path.
He
pondered
for
a
moment
as
to
why
a
plate
of
silver
coins
would
be
out
in
the
desert
where
no
one
else
travels.
Then
he
realized
the
devil
must
have
laid
it
out
there
to
tempt
him.
To
that
he
said,
"Ha!
Devil,
you
want
to
tempt
me
and
deceive
me,
but
it
shall
not
be
in
your
power."
Once
he
said
this,
the
plate
of
silver
vanished.
Saint
Anthony
continued
walking
along
and
saw
a
pile
of
gold
in
his
way
which
the
devil
had
laid
there
to
deceive
him.
Saint
Anthony
cast
the
pile
of
gold
into
a
fire,
and
it
vanished
just
like
the
silver
coins
did.
After
these
events,
Saint
Anthony
had
a
vision
where
the
whole
world
was
full
of
snares
and
traps.
He
cried
to
the
Lord,
"Oh
good
Lord,
who
may
escape
from
these
snares?"
A
voice
said
back
to
him,
"humility
shall
escape
them without more."
Another
time
Saint
Anthony
tried
hiding
in
a
cave
to
escape
the
demons
that
plagued
him.
There
were
so
many
little
demons
in
the
cave
though
that
Saint
Anthony's
servant
had
to
carry
him
out
because
they
had
beaten
him
to
death.
When
the
hermits
were
gathered
to
Saint
Anthony's
corpse
to
mourn
his
death,
Saint
Anthony
was
revived.
He
demanded
that
his
servants
take
him
back
to
that
cave
where
the
demons
had
beaten
him.
When
he
got
there
he
called
out
to
the
demons,
and
they
came
back
as
wild
beasts
to
rip
him
to
shreds.
All
of
a
sudden
a
bright
light
flashed,
and
the
demons
ran
away.
Saint
Anthony
knew
that
the
light
must
have
come
from
God,
and
he
asked
God
where
was
He
before
when
the
demons
attacked
him.
God
replied,
"I
was
here
but
I
would
see
your
battle,
and
because
you
have
fought
in
a
manly
way
and
well
maintained
your
battle,
I
shall
make
your
name
to
be
spread through all the world."
Monks and Missionaries
Saint Anthony the Great
Although he held no titles or position, his holiness marked him as one whose wisdom commanded respect. When the Synod of Nicea was convened, he was invited to participate. His eloquent defense of the Orthodox doctrine concerning the person of Jesus Christ was instrumental in weakening the position of Arianism. His witness led to the eventual and complete elimination of Arianism. He instructed his followers to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. The monastic rules of Saint Anthony, the “patriarch” of monastic life, have served as the basis for countless monasteries.
Hermits and communities
•
After
St.
Anthony,
there
were
villages
or
colonies
of
hermits—the
eremitic
type;
and
monasteries
in
which
a
community
life
was
led—the
cenobitic
type.
Hermits
•
Palladius
was
a
monk
from
Palestine
who,
in
388,
went
to
Egypt
to
drink
in
the
spirit
of
monasticism
at
the
fountainhead.
On
landing
at
Alexandria
he
put
himself
in
the
hands
of
a
priest
named
Isidore,
who
in
early
life
had
been
a
hermit
at
Nitria
and
now
apparently
presided
over
a
hospice
at
Alexandria
without in any way abating the austerity of his life.
On
the
advice
of
Isidore,
Palladius
placed
himself
under
the
direction
of
a
hermit
named
Dorotheus
who
lived
six
miles
outside
Alexandria,
with
whom
he
was
to
pass
three
years
learning
to
subdue
his
passions
and
then
to
return
to
Isidore
to
receive
higher spiritual knowledge.
This
Dorotheus
spent
the
whole
day
collecting
stones
to
build
cells
for
other
hermits,
and
the
whole
night
weaving
ropes
out
of
palm
leaves.
He
never
lay
down
to
sleep,
though
slumber
sometimes overtook him while working or eating.
The eremitical life
Strangers were entertained in a guest-house. If able to read, they were lent a book. They might stay as long as they liked, but after a week they were set to some kind of work. If at the ninth hour a man stood and listened to the sound of psalmody issuing from the different cells, he would imagine, says Palladius, that he was caught up into paradise. Further into the desert was a place called Cells, or Cellia, whither the more perfect withdrew. Here the solitaries lived in cells so far apart that that they were out of sight and out of hearing from one another. Like those of Nitria, they met only on Saturdays and Sundays at church, where some of them had to travel a distance of three or four miles. Often their death was only discovered by their absence from church.
•
Stylites
Stylites (from Greek stylos , "pillar") or Pillar-Saints are a type of Christian ascetic who in the early days of the Byzantine Empire stood on pillars preaching, fasting and praying. They believed that the mortification of their bodies would help ensure the salvation of their souls. The first stylite was probably Simeon Stylites the Elder who climbed on a pillar in Syria in 423 and did not come down until his death 37 years later. Palladius tells us of a hermit in Palestine who dwelt in a cave on the top of a mountain and who for the space of twenty-five years never turned his face to the west (presumably the direction of the cave's entrance). St. Gregory of Nazianzus ( Patrologia Graeca 37, 1456) speaks of a solitary who stood upright for many years together, absorbed in contemplation, without ever lying down. Theodoret assures us that he had seen a hermit who had passed ten years in a tub suspended in midair from poles (Philotheus, chapter 28).
•
Stylites
Icon of Simeon
Stylites the Elder. At
the left, he is shown
stepping down from
his pillar in obedience
to the monastic
elders; at right he is
shown again, standing
atop his pillar, having
passed the test of
humility.
Stylites
•
The
Church
of
Saint
Simeon
Stylites
is
a
historical
building
located
about
30km
(19
mi)
northwest
of
Aleppo, Syria.
St.
Simeon's
pillar
can
still
be
seen
in
the
center
of
the
courtyard,
although
it
is
now
only
a
6ft
7in
high
boulder
due
to
centuries
of
relic-gathering
by
pilgrims.
Stylites today
Maxime Qavtaradze, a 59-year-old monk, has lived a life of virtual solitude on top of a pillar in his Georgian monastery for 20 years.
Stylites today
Stylites today
Stylites today
Stylites today
Stylites today
The cenobitic life
St. Pachomius the Great (c.292-346 A.D.)
St. Pachomius the Great, a follower of Anthony, also acquired a following; he chose to mould them into a community in which the monks lived in individual huts or rooms—cells (from Greek κελλια)—but worked, ate, and worshipped in shared space. This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic ("community-based"). Most monastic life is cenobitic in nature. The head of a monastery came to be known by the word for "Father": in Syriac, Abba—in English, Abbot. St. Jerome translated the rule of St. Pachomius into Latin in 404, and only this translation survives. The rule of St. Pachomius influenced St. Benedict, the most influential figure in Western monasticism, in preparing his own rule.
The cenobitic life
St. Pachomius the Great (c. 292-346 A.D.)
Coptic icon of St.
Pachomius the
Great, the Father
of Cenobitic
Monasticism
The cenobitic life
St. Pachomius the Great (c. 292-346 A.D.)
A Pachomian monastery was a collection of buildings surrounded by a wall. The monks were distributed in houses, each house containing about forty monks. Three or four houses constituted a tribe. There would be thirty to forty houses in a monastery. There was an abbot over each monastery, and provosts with subordinate officials over each house. The monks were divided into houses according to the work they were employed in: thus there would be a house for carpenters, a house for agriculturists, and so forth. But other principles of division seem to have been employed, e.g., we hear of a house for the Greeks. On Saturdays and Sundays all the monks assembled in the church for Mass; on other days the Office and other spiritual exercises were celebrated in the houses.
The cenobitic life
St Basil (ca. 330 - January 1, 379)
Basil was born about 330 at Caesarea in Cappadocia. He came from a wealthy and pious family which gave a number of saints, including his mother Saint Emily (also styled Emilia or Emmelia), grandmother Saint Macrina the Elder, sister Saint Macrina the Younger and brothers Saints Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebaste. It is also a widely held tradition that Saint Theosebia was his youngest sister, who is also a saint in the Church. Drew up rules for monasticism.
The cenobitic life
St Basil (ca. 330 - January 1, 379)
Basil the Great before embracing the monastic state made a careful study of monasticism in Egypt, Palestine, Coelesyria, and Mesopotamia. The result was a decided preference for the cenobitic life. He founded several monasteries in Pontus, over one of which he himself for a time presided, and very soon monasteries, modelled after his, spread over the East. His monks assembled together for the psalms and genuflexions seven times a day, in accordance with the Psalmist's " Seven times a day I praise you for your upright judgements. " (Ps 119,164): at midnight " At midnight I rise to praise you for your upright judgements. " –(Ps 119, 62), at evening, morning and midday "evening, – morning, noon, I complain and I groan. He hears my cry" (Ps 55,17); at the third hour, the hour of Pentecost, and at the ninth, the sacred hour of the Passion. To complete the tale of seven, the midday prayer was divided into two parts separated by the community meal ( Asceticon , II, 321).
The cenobitic life
St Basil (ca. 330 - January 1, 379)
Basil's monastic ideal is set forth in a collection of his writings known as the Asceticon , or Ascetica , the most important of which are the Regulae fusius tractatae , a series of answers to questions, fifty-five in number, and the Regulae brevius tractatae , in which three hundred and thirteen questions are briefly replied to. It must not be supposed that the Regulae form a rule, though it would be possible to go a good way towards constituting one out of them. They are answers to questions which would naturally arise among persons already in possession of a framework of customs or traditions. Sometimes they treat of practical questions, but as often as not they deal with matters concerning the spiritual life.
The cenobitic life
St. Benedict of Nursia (470-543)
Widely venerated as the Father of Western Monasticism, St. Benedict wrote a monastic rule that has been followed continuously by monks in the West since his repose in the sixth century. St. Benedict was born at Nursia, in Italy, around 470 A.D. Sent to school in Rome, he soon fled the worldliness of life in the city, abandoning his secular studies to become a monk. Although he first lived with a company of virtuous men, soon a miracle the holy man performed, fixing a broken vessel, attracted attention. He fled once again and took up residence in a mountain cave at Subiaco, near the site of a villa built by Nero. Here St. Benedict lived in continual prayer and asceticism for three years. Eventually, God allowed his fame to spread once again, and he was asked by a nearby community of monks to become their abbot. The saint reluctantly agreed.
The cenobitic life
St. Benedict of Nursia
However, the men rebelled against his ascetic directions and attempted to poison him. St. Benedict was unharmed, because as he made the sign of the cross over the poisoned drink, the cup shattered. He returned to his cave. Gradually individuals began to come to live near him at Subiaco, and in the end St. Benedict built twelve monasteries for these spiritual children, living himself at a thirteenth. St. Gregory notes a tradition that St. Benedict had a sister, St. Scholastica, who became a nun at one of his communities, and a famous story has her praying for a rainstorm on one occasion so as to enjoy more time in spiritual fellowship with her brother. Three days later, she died. St. Benedict saw her soul rising to heaven "in the likeness of a dove," and had her buried in his own tomb. (St. Scholastica is remembered on February 10.) After receiving the Eucharist, St. Benedict reposed in the oratory of his monastery, his arms lifted in prayer, in the year 543.
The cenobitic life
•
St. Benedict of Nursia (470-543)
Detail
from
fresco
by
Fra
Angelico
Saint Martin of Tours
•
Saint
Martin
of
Tours
(Latin:
Sanctus
Martinus
Turonensis),
(316,
Savaria,
Pannonia
–
November
8,
397,
Candes-
Saint-Martin,
Gaul;
buried
November
11,
397,
Candes,
Gaul)
was
a
Bishop
of
Tours
whose
shrine
became
a
famous
stopping-
point
for
pilgrims
on
the
road
to
Santiago
de Compostela.
Much
has
been
said
about
him
and
he
has
become
one
of
the
most
familiar
and
recognizable
saints.
He
is
considered
a
spiritual
bridge
across
Europe,
given
his
association with both France and Hungary.
Saint Martin of Tours
•
Saint
Martin
after
serving
in
the
Roman
legions
converted
to
Christianity
and
established
a
hermitage
near
Milan,
then
moved
on
to
Poitiers
where
he
gathered
a
community around his hermitage.
He
was
called
to
become
Bishop
of
Tours
in
372,
where
he
established
a
monastery
at
Marmoutiers
on
the
opposite
bank
of
the
Loire
River,
a
few
miles
upstream
from
the
city.
His
monastery
was
laid
out
as
a
colony
of
hermits
rather
than
as
a
single
integrated
community.
Lérins Abbey
•
Lérins
Abbey
is
a
Cistercian
monastery
on
the
island
of
Saint-Honorat,
one
of
the
Lérins
Islands,
on
the
French
Riviera, with an active monastic community.
There
has
been
a
monastic
community
there
since
the
5th
century.
The
construction
of
the
current
monastery
buildings began around 1073.
Today
the
monks
cultivate
vineyards
and
produce
wine
and liqueur.
Lérins Abbey
•
The
island,
known
to
the
Romans
as
Lerina,
was
uninhabited
until
Saint
Honoratus,
a
disciple
of
a
local
hermit
named
Caprasius
of
Lérins,
founded
a
monastery
on
it
at
some
time
around
the
year
410.
According
to
tradition,
Honoratus
made
his
home
on
the
island
intending
to
live
as
a
hermit,
but
found
himself
joined
by
disciples
who
formed
a
monastic
community
around
him.
This
had
become
"an
immense
monastery"
by
427,
according
to
the
contemporary
writings
of
John Cassian.
There
is
also
a
tradition
that
Saint
Patrick,
patron
saint
of
Ireland,
studied
here
in
the
fifth century
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey
Ireland
•
The
first
non-Roman
area
to
adopt
monasticism
was
Ireland,
which
developed
a
unique
form
closely
linked
to
traditional
clan
relations,
a
system
that
later
spread
to
other parts of Europe, especially France.
The
earliest
Monastic
settlements
in
Ireland
emerged
at
the
end
of
the
fifth
century.
The
first
identifiable
founder
of
a
monastery
was
Saint
Brigit,
a
saint
who
ranked
with
Saint
Patrick
as
a
major
figure
of
the
Irish
church.
The
monastery
at
Kildare
was
a
double
monastery,
with
both
men
and
women
ruled
by
the
Abbess,
a
pattern
found
in
other
monastic
foundations.
Saint Patrick
Statue of St. Patrick at Hill
of Tara, Ireland.
Saint Patrick
The
historical
Patrick
is
much
more
attractive
than
the
Patrick
of
legend.
It
is
unclear
exactly
where
Patricius
Magonus
Sucatus
(Patrick;
Irish:
Naomh
Pádraig)
was
born--somewhere
in
the
west
between
the
mouth
of
the
Severn
and
the
Clyde.
Before
he
became
Patricius
(meaning
"Father
of
the
Citizens"),
which
later
evolved
into
Patrick,
the
boy
went
by
his
birth
name
-
Maewyn
Succat
.
About
405,
when
Patrick
was
in
his
teens
(14-16),
he
was
captured
by
Irish
raiders
and
became
a
slave
in
Ireland.
There
in
Ballymena
(or
Slemish)
in
Antrim
(or
Mayo),
Patrick
first
learned
to
pray
intensely
while
tending
his
master's
sheep
in
contrast
with
his
early
years
in
Britain
when
he
"knew
not
the
true
God"
and
did
not
heed
clerical
"admonitions
for
our
salvation."
After
six
years,
he
was
told
in
a
dream
that
he
should
be
ready
for
a
courageous
effort
that
would
take
him
back
to
his
homeland.
Saint Patrick
He ran away from his owner and travelled 200 miles to the coast. His initial request for free passage on a ship was turned down, but he prayed, and the sailors called him back. The ship on which he escaped was taking dogs to Gaul (France). At some point he returned to his family in Britain, then seems to have studied at the monastery of Lérins on the Côte d'Azur from 412 to 415.
Saint Patrick
•
He
received
some
kind
of
training
for
the
priesthood
in
either
Britain
or
Gaul,
possibly
in
Auxerre,
including
study
of
the
Latin
Bible,
but
his
learning
was
not
of
a
high
standard,
and
he
was
to
regret
this
always.
He
spent
the
next
15
years
at
Auxerre
were
he
became
a
disciple
of
Saint
Germanus
of
Auxerre
and
was
possibly
ordained
about 417.
In
his
Confessio
Patrick
writes:
"It
was
not
my
grace,
but
God
who
overcomes
in
me,
so
that
I
came
to
the
heathen
Irish
to
preach
the
Gospel
.
.
.
to
a
people
newly
come
to
belief
which
the
Lord
took
from
the
ends
of
the
earth."
Saint
Germanus
consecrated
him
bishop
about
432,
and
sent
him
to
Ireland
to
succeed
Saint
Palladius,
the
first
bishop,
who
had
died
earlier
that
year.
Patrick
made
his
way to Ireland about 435.
.
Saint Patrick
•
He
set
up
his
see
at
Armagh
and
organized
the
church
into
territorial
sees,
as
elsewhere
in
the
West
and
East.
While
Patrick
encouraged
the
Irish
to
become
monks
and
nuns,
it
is
not
certain
that
he
was
a
monk
himself;
it
is
even
less
likely
that
in
his
time
the
monastery
became
the
principal
unit
of
the
Irish
Church,
although
it
was
in
later
periods.
The
choice
of
Armagh
may
have
been
determined
by
the
presence
of
a
powerful
king.
There
Patrick
had
a
school
and
presumably
a
small
familia
in
residence;
from this base he made his missionary journeys.
Saint Patrick
•
Saint
Patrick
established
the
Catholic
Church
throughout
Ireland
on
lasting
foundations:
he
travelled
throughout
the
country
preaching,
teaching,
building
churches,
opening
schools
and
monasteries,
converting
chiefs
and
bards,
and
everywhere supporting his preaching with miracles.
At
Tara
in
Meath
he
confronted
King
Laoghaire
on
Easter
Eve
with
the
Christian
Gospel,
kindled
the
light
of
the
paschal
fire
on
the
hill
of
Slane
(the
fire
of
Christ
never
to
be
extinguished
in
Ireland),
confounded
the
Druids
into
silence,
and
gained
a
hearing for himself as a man of power.
He
converted
the
king's
daughters
who
became
Saints
Ethenea
and
Fidelmia.
He
threw
down
the
idol
of
Crom
Cruach
in
Leitrim.
Patrick
wrote
that
he
daily
expected
to
be
violently
killed
or
enslaved
again.
Saint Patrick
He
gathered
many
followers,
including
Saint
Benignus,
who
would
become
his
successor.
That
was
one
of
his
chief
concerns,
as
it
always
is
for
the
missionary
Church:
the raising up of native clergy.
Patrick
wrote:
“It
was
most
needful
that
we
should
spread
our
nets,
so
that
a
great
multitude
and
a
throng
should
be
taken
for
God
…
Most
needful
that
everywhere
there
should
be
clergy
to
baptize
and
exhort
a
people
poor
and
needy,
as
the
Lord
in
the
Gospel
warns
and
teaches,
saying:
Go
therefore
now,
and
teach
all
nations.
And
again:
Go
therefore
into
the
whole
world
and
preach
the
Gospel
to
every
creature.
And
again:
This
Gospel
of
the
Kingdom
shall
be
preached
in
the
whole
world
for
a
testimony to all nations.”
Saint Patrick
•
There
was
some
contact
with
the
Pope.
He
visited
Rome
in
442
and
444.
As
the
first
real
organizer
of
the
Irish
Church,
Patrick
is
called
the
Apostle
of
Ireland.
According
to
the
Annals
of
Ulster,
the
Cathedral
Church
of
Armagh
was
founded
in
444,
and
the
see
became
a
center
of
education
and
administration.
Patrick
organized
the
Church
into
territorial
sees,
raised
the
standard
of
scholarship
(encouraging
the
teaching
of
Latin),
and
worked
to
bring
Ireland
into
a
closer
relationship
with
the
Western Church.
Saint Patrick
•
Towards
the
end
of
his
life,
Patrick
made
that
‘retreat’
of
forty
days
on
Cruachan
Aigli
in
Mayo
from
which
the
age-long
Croagh
Patrick
pilgrimage
derives.
He
longed
to
retire
for
a
while
to
refresh
his
soul
in
solitude,
and
for
that
purpose
on
the
Saturday
before
Ash
Wednesday
in
the
year
441,
he
took
himself to the mountain top.
Here
he
spent
the
days
of
Lent,
chastising
his
body
with
fasts,
pouring
out
his
heart
to
God,
and
entreating
Him
with
prolonged
importunity
and
with
tears that the Faith may not fail in the land of Erin.
Patrick
may
have
died
at
Saul
on
Strangford
Lough,
Downpatrick,
where
he
had
built
his
first
church.
Glastonbury
claims
his
alleged
relics.
The
National
Museum
at
Dublin
has
his
bell
and
tooth,
presumably
from
the
shrine
at
Downpatrick,
where
he
was
originally
entombed
with
Saints
Brigid
and
Columba.
Saint Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick's Lorica or Breastplate
St. Patrick's Breastplate is contained in the ancient Book of Armagh, from the early ninth century, along with Patrick's Confession. St. Patrick is said to have written this prayer to strengthen himself with God's protection as he prepared to confront and convert Loegaire, high king of Ireland. There are some similarities to Paul's exhortation to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-18), except that it is much more detailed. I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this today to me forever By power of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in Jordan river, His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb, His riding up the heavenly way, His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHWiAGpIP0
Saint Brigid
•
Saint
Brigid
of
Kildare
or
Brigid
of
Ireland
(Brigit,
Bridget,
Bridgit,
Bríd
or
Bride)
(Irish:
Naomh
Bhríde)
(c.
451–525)
was
an
Irish
Roman
Catholic
nun,
abbess,
and
founder
of
several
convents
who
is
venerated as a saint.
She
is
considered
one
of
Ireland's
patron
saints
along
with
Saints
Patrick
and
Columba.
Her
feast
day
is
February
1,
the
traditional
first
day
of
spring
in Ireland.
According
to
tradition,
Brigid
was
born
at
Faughart
near
Dundalk,
County
Louth,
Ireland.
According
to
her
biographers
her
parents
were
Dubhthach,
a
pagan
chieftain
of
Leinster,
and
Brocca,
a
Christian
Pict who had been baptized by Saint Patrick.
Some
accounts
of
her
life
suggested
that
Brigid's
mother
was
in
fact
Portuguese,
kidnapped
by
Irish
pirates
and
brought
to
Ireland
to
work
as
a
slave
in
much the same way as Patrick.
Saint Brigid
•
She
grew
up
marked
by
her
high
spirits
and
tender
heart,
and
as
a
child,
she
heard
Saint
Patrick
preach, which she never forgot.
Brigid
received
the
veil
from
Saint
Mel
and
professed
vows
dedicating
her
life
to
Christ.
She
is
believed
to
have
founded
a
convent
in
Clara,
County
Offaly
-
her
first:
other
foundations
followed.
But
it
was
to
be
in
Kildare
that
her
major
foundation
would emerge.
Around
470
she
founded
Kildare
Abbey,
a
double
monastery,
for
nuns
and
monks,
on
the
plains
of
Cill-Dara,
“the
church
of
the
oak”,
her
cell
being
made
under
a
large
oak
tree.
As
Abbess
of
this
foundation
she
wielded
considerable
power.
Brigid
and
her
successor
Abbesses
at
Kildare
had
an
administrative
authority
equal
to
that
of
a
Bishop
until the Synod of Kells in 1152.
Saint Brigid
Saint Brigid of Ireland
in stained glass. This
image was found at
catholic-forum.com
which attributes it to
St.Joseph Catholic
Church in Macon,
Georgia. The church
was dedicated in 1903.
Saint Enda
Founder of Irish monasticism (c. 450-530)
Enda was an Irish prince, and when his father died, he succeeded him as king and went off to fight his enemies. The soldier Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea, an abbess. He visited Fanchea, who tried to persuade him to lay down his arms. He agreed, if only she would give him a young girl in the convent for a wife. He renounced his dreams of conquest and decided to marry. The girl she promised turned out to have just died, and Fanchea forced him to view the girl's corpse, to teach him that he too, would one day face death and judgment. Faced with the reality of death, and by his sister's persuasion, Enda decided to study for the priesthood, and Fanchea sent him to Candida Casa in southwestern Scotland, a great center of monasticism in England. There he took monastic vows and was ordained.
Saint Enda
•
Enda's
monks
imitated
the
asceticism
and
simplicity
of
the
earliest
Egyptian
desert
hermits.
It
is
said
that
Enda
learned
the
principles
of
monastic
life
at
Rosnat
in
Britain, which was Saint Ninian's hermitage in Galloway.
About
484
he
was
given
land
in
the
Aran
Islands
by
his
brother-in-law, the King of Cashel.
Three
limestone
islands
make
up
the
Aran
Islands:
Inishmore,
Inishmaan
and
Inisheer.
The
three
islands
of
Aran
stretch
across
the
mouth
of
Galway
Bay,
forming
a
kind of natural breakwater against the Atlantic Ocean.
Saint Enda
Aran islands
Saint Enda
Inishmore
was
at
that
time
a
lovely
island
with
wooded
valleys,
green
fields,
and
fair
sheltered
nooks
bright
with
wild
flowers,
and
the
peaceful
island
was
surrounded
by
the
blue
water
of
the
sea,
which
sometimes
made
music
in
the
dark
caves,
but
more
often
dashed
with
the
sound
of
thunder
against its lofty cliffs.
These
cliffs
rose
out
of
the
water
to
the
height
of
300
feet
on
the
western
side
of
the
island,
and
from
thence
the
land
fell
in
gentle
slopes
towards
the
eastern sea-shore.
Enda
built
his
monastery
and
church
near
the
sea
or
the
north-east
corner
of
the
island,
where
the
land
was
most
fertile,
and
he
there
led
a
life
of
great holiness.
Saint Enda
Saint Enda
Saint Laserian
Saint Laserian
St. Laserian was the son of Cairel, a nobleman of Ulster, and of
Gemma, daughter of Aidan, king of the British Scots. He lived
the life of a hermit on Holy Isle (off the Isle of Arran).
When he arrived at a mature age, he is said to have proceeded
to Rome, and to have remained there for fourteen years. Then,
we are told that he was ordained priest by St. Gregory the Great,
and soon after returned to Ireland. Coming to Old Leighlin, he
was affectionately received by St. Cobban, who governed the
monastery there. This saint conceived such a high opinion of St.
Laserian that he gave up to him his monastery and went to
erect a monastery elsewhere. Laserian is said to have had 1,500
monks under him at Leighlin.
Saint Laserian
At
this
time
there
was
controversy
in
Ireland
as
to
the
right
time
for
celebrating
Easter.
Some
were
for
adopting
the
new
Roman
method,
but
the
bulk
of
the
clergy
and
nation
were
attached
to
the
old
computation,
until
the
year
630,
when,
in
consequence
of
an
admonitory
letter
from
pope
Honorius
I,
a
synod
was
held
at
or
near
Leighlin,
which
was
attended
by
a
great
number
of
persons,
and
amongst
others
by
the
heads
of
several
of
the
greatest
religious
establishments
in
the
South
of
Ireland.
St.
Laserian spoke in favour of the Roman system.
As
there
was
disagreement,
it
was
resolved
by
the
elders
that
some
wise
and
humble
persons
should
be
sent
to
Rome,
as
children
to
their
mother.
Among
these
was
St.
Laserian,
in
all
probability,
for
he
certainly
was
at
Rome
the
same
year.
These
delegates
saw
at
Rome
how
people
from
various
countries
celebrated
Easter
at
one
and
the
same
time,
and
they
returned
to
Ireland
to
announce
to
those
who
had
deputed
them,
that
the
Roman
method
of
keeping
Easter
was
that
of
the
whole
Christian world.
Saint Laserian
Thenceforth,
about
the
year
633,
the
new
Roman
cycle
and
rules
were
received
in
the
Southern
division
of
Ireland.
Before
his
return
to
his
native
island,
Laserian
had
been
consecrated
bishop
by
pope
Honorius
I.
He
survived
his
return
only
a
few
years,
as
he
died
on
April
18th,
639.
He
was
buried
in
his
own
church
at
Leighlin,
and
his
memory
is
greatly
revered
in
the
province of Leinster.
He had a vision of Hell:
At the end of the third three days' fast sleep overpowered him in the oratory, and in his sleep he heard a voice saying to him: ‘Arise!’ He saw a great pit as it were the mouth of a cave between two mountains, which they entered above. For a long time they went along the cave, until they came to a great high black mountain before them at the mouth of Hell, and a large glen in the upper part of that mountain.
Saint Laserian
He had a vision of Hell:
Thereupon the man's soul went into Hell itself, even a sea of fire with an unspeakable storm and unspeakable waves upon it. And he saw the souls aflame in that sea, and their heads all above it; and they wailing and lamenting, crying woe without ceasing throughout the ages. Some of the souls had fiery nails through their tongues, which were sticking out of their heads; others through their ears, others through their eyes. The angel who had accompanied him to Hell said: “Tell people to repent, for whoever shall make repentance and remain in it shall not be in this place, but will be in a place of comfort away from this evil. Tell people also that he who is under the displeasure of God, should be repentant since God accepts repentance if it be done from a pious heart, and God’s mercy will help him.”Saint Columbanus
•
Saint
Columbanus
(540
–
23
November
615;
Irish: Columban, meaning the white dove.)
Saint
Columbanus
was
an
Irish
missionary
notable
for
founding
a
number
of
monasteries
on
the
European
continent
from
around
590
in
the
Frankish
and
Italian
kingdoms,
most
notably
Luxeuil
(in
present-day
France)
and
Bobbio
(Italy),
and
stands
as
an
exemplar
of
Irish
missionary
activity
in
early
medieval
Europe.
He
spread
among
the
Franks
a
Celtic
monastic
rule
and
Celtic
penitential
practices
for
those
repenting
of
sins,
which
emphasized
private
confession
to
a
priest,
followed
by
penances
levied
by
the
priest
in
reparation
for
the
sin.
He
is
also
one
of
the
earliest
identifiable Hiberno-Latin writers.
Saint Columbanus
Saint Columbanus
•
Columbanus
was
born
in
Nobber,
County
Meath,
Ireland,
in
the
year
Saint
Benedict
died,
and
from
childhood was well instructed.
His
first
master
was
Sinell,
Abbot
of
Cluaninis
in
Lough
Erne.
The
Irish
words
"Cluan
Innish",
which
mean
meadow
and
island,
have
been
contracted
to
"Cleenish",
where
the
remains
of
the
monastery
can
be seen at Bellenaleck, County Fermanagh.
He
then
moved
to
the
celebrated
monastery
of
Bangor
on
the
coast
of
Down,
which
at
that
time
had
for
its
abbot
St.
Comgall.
There
Columbanus
embraced
the
monastic
state,
and
for
many
years
led
a
life
conspicuous
for
fervour,
regularity
and
learning.
At
about
the
age
of
40
he
seemed
to
hear
incessantly
the
voice
of
God
bidding
him
to
preach
the
Gospel
in
foreign
lands.
At
first
his
abbot
declined to let him go, but at length he consented.
Saint Columbanus
•
Columbanus
set
sail
with
twelve
companions;
their
names
are
believed
to
be
St.
Attala,
Columbanus
the
Younger,
Cummain,
Domgal
(Deicolus?),
Eogain,
Eunan,
St.
Gall,
Gurgano,
Libran,
Lua,
Sigisbert
and
Waldoleno.
This
little
band
passed
over
to
Britain,
landing
probably
on
the
Scottish
coast.
Some
contend
they
may
have
landed
in
and
crossed
Cornwall
enroute
to
Brittany.
They
remained
only
a
short
time
in
England
and
then
crossed
over
to
France,
where
they
arrived
probably
in
585.
The
landing
site
of
Columbanus
is
marked
by
a
shrine
at
Carnac
in
Brittany.
At
once,
they
began their apostolic mission.
Saint Columbanus
•
Wherever
they
went,
the
people
were
struck
by
their
modesty,
patience
and
humility.
France
at
that
period
was
in
sore
need
of
such
a
band
of
monks
and
preachers.
Owing
partly
to
the
incursions
of
barbarians,
and
partly
due
to
the
remissness
of
the
clergy, vice and impiety were prevalent.
Here
the
abbot
and
his
monks
led
the
simplest
of
lives,
their
food
often
consisting
of
nothing
but
forest
herbs,
berries,
and
the
bark
of
young
trees.
The
fame
of
Columbanus'
sanctity
drew
crowds
to
his
monastery.
Many,
both
nobles
and
rustics,
asked
to
be
admitted
into
the
community.
Sick
persons
came
to
be
cured
through
their
prayers.
But
Columbanus
loved
solitude.
Often
he
would
withdraw
to
a
cave
seven
miles
distant,
with
a
single
companion
who
acted
as
messenger
between
himself
and
his
brethren.
Saint Columbanus
•
He
went
to
see
Pope
St.
Gregory
the
Great
in
Rome whom he addressed as follows:
"We
Irish,
though
dwelling
at
the
far
ends
of
the
earth,
are
all
disciples
of
St.
Peter
and
St.
Paul...
Just
as
the
faith
was
first
delivered
to
us
by
yourselves,
the
successors
of
the
Apostles,
it
is
held
by
us
unchanged...
we
are
bound
to
the
Chair
of
Peter,
and
although
Rome
is
great
and
renowned,
through
that
Chair
alone
is
she
looked
on
as
great
and
illustrious
among
us
...
On
account
of
the
two
Apostles
of
Christ,
you
[the
Pope]
are
almost
celestial,
and
Rome
is
the
head
of
the
whole
world,
and
of
the
Churches."
Saint Columbanus
•
It
was
necessary
that,
in
Italy,
Columbanus
should
have
a
settled
abode,
so
the
king
gave
him
a
tract
of
land
called
Bobbio,
between
Milan
and
Genoa,
near
the
River
Trebbia,
situated
in
the
Apennines.
On
his
way
there
he
taught
the
Faith
in
the
town
of
Mombrione,
which is called San Colombano to this day.
At
Bobbio
the
saint
repaired
the
half-ruined
church
of
St.
Peter,
and
erected
his
celebrated
abbey.
He
died
at
Bobbio
in
615.
His
body
has
been
preserved
in
the
abbey
church
at
Bobbio,
and
many
miracles
are
said
to
have
been
wrought there through his intercession.
•
Final prayer:
Lord
God,
in
the
life
of
Saint
Columbanus
you
combined
a
zeal
for
mission
and
a
love
of
the
monastic
life.
May
his
prayer
and
example
prompt
us
to
love
you
above
all
things
and
to
increase
the
household
of
the
faith.
Through
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
your
Son,
who
lives
and
reigns
with
you
and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
