Team 4: Beutler: question 2 (Category: irish christianity; Tags: patrick)

2. Patrick, Confessio.

Briefly summarize Madigan’s discussion of the entrance of Christianity into Ireland. Then turn to an analysis of Patrick’s Confessio, a document whose title can mean “declaration” (in defense of critics), “profession” (of faith), a praise of God, and a statement used in a missionary context to testify to the saving power of God and Christ.

Madigan describes the entrance of Christianity into Ireland through the journey of Patrick (390-461). At this time, the basis of society in Ireland was tribes. Each individual tribe was ruled by a petty king as there was no central authority ruling over Ireland. Because of this societal structure, when Christianity was introduced, people were more willing to commit to Christianity if their king first adopted the religious values. Patrick’s method did not always work in trying to convert the people of Ireland, but by approaching leaders of tribes and clans first, and by sharing his declaration with the men of nations, Christianity was adopted and accepted by other Irish subjects.

Monasteries became the basic units of ecclesiastical organization, and typically each tribe had their own monastery. Irish Monks dedicated themselves to a life of voluntary, perpetual, missionary exile, which resulted in secular law, requiring everlasting banishments for crimes, ect.
Irish manner of practicing penance was common and played a large role in the Celtic culture. Penance rule books and literature was a guide in societal acceptance and structure of Irish tribes.

a. What reasons does Patrick give for deciding to write his autobiography?

a. Patrick decided to write his autobiography because it was his way of returning his thanks to God. Patrick wanted to thank God for “looking upon his lowliness, and for having mercy on the ignorance of his youth, and for protecting him.” His autobiography is to “glorify and bear witness to God’s wonderful works.”
“The Father has plentifully poured the Holy Spirit upon us, the gift and pledge of immorality.”
Patrick for a long while was afraid of “the attack of men’s tongues,” but then he realized that “Wisdom becomes known through speech, and education through the words of the tongue.” So in that, Patrick decided to write his account. His goal was to spread Christianity to the men of nations.(Patrick’s Declaration of the Great Works of God)

b. How do his description of his education, his youth, and his visionary experiences complement and add “depth” to the confessional nature of his autobiography and enhance his personal authority?

b. Being a speechless, sinning child, Patrick did not know what he should have desired and what he should have avoided. He wrote his letters as a partial result of shame and fear that he lay bare lack of expertise and polish, as he learned that he was unable to make is meaning clear. He states that if he had been given the same chance as the rest, as a youth,
Her would not keep silent. To some he may have seemed arrogant in making his declaration simply because of his lack of learning and “slow tongue.” In the midst of Patrick’s wandering days without any learning, “The Lord came and in His mercy raised him up, and inspired him to teach and faithfully serve.”

Patrick’s goal was to “spread the name of God, trustingly and without fear, so that even after his death he may leave something of value to the thousands of people, brothers and sons, baptized in the Lord.” (Patrick’s Declaration of the Great Works of God)

c. Patrick tells his life story through a biblical lens: the title has strong biblical associations, and almost all of the footnotes refer to passages from the Bible (many come from Paul’s letters). How does this information influence your interpretation of the autobiography (i.e., its historical value, its agenda, biases, and purpose)? Identify key concepts and/or passages that you think illustrate Patrick’s “theological” reading of his life.

c. Patrick’s “theological” reading of his life is very clear and educated. The many passages that he refers to, throughout his autobiography, illustrates his purpose as a teacher, his passion for a structured and truthful agenda, as well as gives historical value to the time period and the impact of biblical associations and Celtic Christianity. The concept of “thankfulness, and to faithfully serve the Lord illustrates Patrick’s reading of his life. The mercy that the Lord brought upon Patrick’s sad, uneducated life, is Patrick’s inspiration in writing his autobiography. Patrick comments continually on the power of prayer and how through prayer God led the way of his journey. Many of his prayers were answered and God also gave him directions through prayer. Patrick was amazed by God’s doings and felt the need to “faithfully serve with fear and without blame, the people to whom Christ’s love brought him.”(Patrick’s Declaration of the Great Works of God)

d. Considering the nature of early Irish Christianity (see Madigan, 46-49), who do you think Patrick’s intended audience was, and who might have found it meaningful in the decades after Patrick’s death?

d. Patrick’s intended audience was the leaders of the Irish tribes. By establishing and converting the kings and leaders to Christianity, Patrick hoped the leaders subjects would follow. His teachings were of tongue and he hoped that the men who belonged to “the nations” of whom he travel with on the ship would also come to faith in Jesus Christ. God told Patrick to go to all of the world and preach the gospel to the entire universe. To baptize the men of the nations and the Irish leader’s sons and daughters are to become monks and virgins of Christ. (Patrick’s Declaration of the Great Works of God)