What was Early Irish Monasticism Like?

This video essay explores the life of Ireland's ancient monastics, using case studies from the monastic foundations of Sts. Enda, Finnian, Columba, Columbanus, and Maelruain.

#irishhistory #irishcatholic #irishculture #catholicsaint #catholicsaints #monastic #catholictradition #christianhistory #celticculture

[michaelcullen]

I had an incident happen to me years ago in Saltzburg, Austria. While visiting the Dom Cathedral my wife and I ventured down into the Crypt where the bishops of Saltzburg were laid to rest. One of the placks explained that the first monastery at Saltzburg was founded in the 8th century by 2 monks Rupert and Vergil. Vergil was of interest because his proper name was Fergil and his parent monastery was Swords the town in Ireland where I live.

[Signaman-zd]

That was enjoyable. Good luck with your book 👍, ☘️

[clarekuehn]

Thank you!! And economics also changed, with these monasteries and discipline and kindness and the Irish ended up helping the later continental monasteries revive.

[StFrancisEnjoyer]

Is there a place I could buy a kindle/digital version of The Saga of Ireland?

[martincunningham]

St Columba was a native of Donegal (not Derry).

Rather, Derry was one of the monasteries he founded.

[TeachBeag]

St Maelruan well featured here in Tallaght - schools especially ❤️🙏🌼🫖☘️

[niallgerardjosephoconnells]

Kind regards Niall O'Connell Dundalk Ireland 🇨🇮❤️. 1.04am. Sunday 🌃 nite Irish time.

[paulmaguire]

St columba, or Colmcille, was from Gartan in Co Donegal. Not Derry

[scented-leafpelargonium]

I don't think we should conflate Roman Catho!ic monasticism with the brave missionaries of the pre-Roman Celtic Church in Ireland which neither recognised the authority of the Papacy, but kept very different more Judaic practices more akin to the first early Jewish Church in Jerusalem and the Quartodeciman churches of Asia Minor founded by John the Apostle, such as keeping the commanded Sabbath of the LORD on the 7th day in obedience to Scripture and remembering the death (not His birth or resurrection which was never instructed by Yeshua) on the Biblical date of Passover, namely Nisan 14th, as opposed to the later Roman "Easter" named after the goddess Eostre/Eastre tying it to a day of the week instead. In fact Columbanus of Bangor, my own home town, wrote to the Pope to call the Roman "Easter" as heretical.

These men were not "monks" as many imagine, such as the Roman Catholic brand, but were itinerate preachers and teachers who travelled widely to spread true Christianity.

They did not eat unclean animals or shellfish and their clergy were able to marry freely.

These are the men who Christianised Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and much of continental Europe, much to the chagrin of the Roman bishops there, who even succeeded in getting Columbanus imprisoned, such was the disagreement to their doctrine & practice.

This changed after the Synod of Whitby in 664, after which the British Church turned Roman, with the Celtic missionaries retreating to remote islands like Iona & Lindisfarne.

These early Christians were not Roman Catholics, nor Protestants, and would not adhere to their observances and traditions today, despite many churches being named after them.

The stone buildings and churches that are shown in videos like these give the wrong impression that the Celtic Church had churches like the Roman Catholics in Gothic style, yet they lived in localised communities, such as at Bangor where St Patrick visited, in primitive wooden structures that of course do not survive today. We must not cover up the truth about their practices and beliefs in order to try to absorb them into Catholicism.

That goes against everything that these men and women lived for and is simply a lie.

[KenDelloSandro]

+OMNES SANCTI MONACHI ET EREMITAE, ORATE PRO NOBIS. AMEN.

[calebklingerman]

Nice try, where are Donnall and Connall?

[EliseLynch-hjoz]

Thank you for all your research into the Irish monks. I would suggest that you also research Irish pronunciation before doing another podcast. The Irish names are not easy but it is not hard to find out how to pronounce them correctly. It would enhance your message.

[musicguy]

I’m guessing cooking wasn’t a thing and a raw diet was the thing locals did.

[mariekatherine]

Those monks must have been physically tough. If I slept on the bare ground and rocks, guaranteed I couldn’t up under my own power. I don’t know about starving yourself and wearing an iron girdle. Nowadays, that’d be considered anorexia and self-harming, not spiritual!

[audreyroche]

Trying work out what reglion were the monks were they Catholic he just said Christian American annoying because as far as i know back than only druids beliefs and Catholic mixture