Lecture 4: Early Monasticism to the Celtic Church

•    Men and women who have made a difference for God have almost always gone through suffering
•    Three response to reforming the church: leave and form new churches, form small groups within the church, conform and give up
•    Most missionaries from 4th to 18th century were monastics (exceptions Waldensians, Lollards, Puritans, Calvinists, Anabaptists)
•    Celtic movement had four attitudes we should emulate: deep devotion, missionary passion, love of learning, respect for venacular cultures

• Patrick (431-460)- source of most vigorous mission movement
• First misisonary monasticism
• Patrick’s method of mission- convert the leaders, train male and female disciples, go to new area

•    Don’t Synod of Whitby movements- Augustine of Cantebury convinced Celtic movement to come under Roman authority

• Columba- Iona- celtic movement back to britain
• Augustine of Canterbury- sent from Rome, brought under authority
• Columbanus (550)- converted Clovis, King of Franks, Frankish church decadent, he made an alterative church and mission structure not id’d with older

•    Benedict of Nursia brought structure and discipline to the monastic movement

• Monastic movement declined due to wealth, becoming center of power, abbots became feudal lords, nobility

•    Renewal of monastery arose on periphery- Cluny (910), Cliteaux (1098), Friars (13th century)