Celtic Christianity and its Monastic Influence on the Church

Introduction

Before the predominant model of monasticism began by St. Benedict of Nursia at Monte Cassino in 520 A.D., monasticism had another way of life and prayer in the newly converted Celtic lands of the Far West. This was rooted in the faith introduced by St. Patrick (ca. 461 A.D.). The monasteries of Celtic Christianity became centers of ecclesiastical life, as well as great schools of learning. Those in the forefront of the Celtic school were famous abbots like: Sts. Samson, Cadoc, Gildas, and David. They carried their monastic ideals across most of Europe: at Luxeuil in ca. 590 A.D.; at Jumieges in France; at Stavelot and Malmedy in Belgium; at St. Gall in Switzerland; and at Bobbio in Italy. These monasteries were founded by the Irish monks.

Historical notes: St. Patrick Christianizes Ireland

After being carried as a slave to Ireland around ca. 401 A.D., Patrick became acquainted with both the country and the language. When he was able to return to England in 407 A.D., some writings say he became a monk in the monastery of Lerin, then became a cleric in Auxerre, and eventually was sent as a missionary to Ireland where he acted as bishop. St. Patrick not only converted the Celtic tribes very well but organized them ecclesiastically. Because of St. Patrick's monastic formation, a monastic character thus became typical of Irish Christianity. It was the Irish monasteries that became the religious centers for each of the numerous Celtic tribes. Aside from the monastic leaders already mentioned above, there are other great holy founders like: Finnian, Columban the Elder of Hy, Comgall of Bangor, Brendan, Kevin, and Columban the Younger.

Irish Catholicism and private confession

In the sixth century, the monastic ideal that blossomed in Ireland became popular. Monasteries eventually became advanced schools of intellectual life and piety. The island produced countless saints and scholars and was called the "Insula Sanctorum". This golden age of the Irish Church lasted until about 740 A.D. It was from this golden age of Irish monasticism that the entire Catholic Church inherited the practice of private confession. The custom of private confession was first practiced by the Irish monks, who eventually recommended it to the lay faithful since they ask for advice on spiritual matters. Private confession thus became an instrument for spiritual guidance.

A monasticism which has a missionary spirit

In spite of its strong anchoritic (hermit) character, Irish monasticism also had a strong missionary spirit. Holy pilgrimage, the "Perigrinari pro Christo", was their ascetic ideal. This active Irish missionary monks were especially active in northwestern Germany, in Franconia, in Thuringia, Alemannia, Swabia, and Bavaria. Among the better known missionary monks were St. Kilian of Wurzburg (martyred in 689 A.D. with Colonatus and Totnanus), Pirminius (d. 753 A.D.), Corbinianus of Freising (d. 725 A.D.), Fridolin of Sackingen (ca. 600 A.D.), Trudpert of the Untermunster valley (d. ca. 607 A.D.), Rupertus of Worms (d. ca. 718 A.D.), Emmeranus of Regensburg (d. 715 A.D.), Findan of Rheinau (d. 878 A.D.), Furseus (d. ca. 647 A.D.), Eligius (d. ca. 660 A.D.), Amandus, Lambert, and Hubertus.

Conclusion

This summarized history of monasticism in the Celtic Church, makes one see that the monastic charism is like a prism which reflects many colors when the rays of the sun shine upon it. Each color of the monastic charism represents a specific monastic spiritual tradition that has sprung from the following of Christ and His gospel. Of the many monastic ideals (such as that of St. Basil in the East, the monks of the desert in Egypt, and the Benedictine monks of the West), the specific contribution of Irish monasticism to the whole Church is a sophisticated and ascetic striving for perfection through the individual guidance given in private confession. With Vatican II's introduction of communal penitential services, because of the Irish monastic influence, private confession still remains as a cherished tradition of confession in the Church today.