So here's how i feel about the rule of Saint Columbanus
The rule of Saint Columbanus (died 615 after spending time in Bangor before founding monasteries in Annegray, Luxeuil and Bobbio) and the Rule of Benedict (a popular european contemporary), clearly contrast the difference in opinion to how monasticism should be effected between semi-isolated Ireland and the changing more relaxed trend existing in Europe. Examining to the two documents will illustrate to us that contrast, what their similar and dissimilar concerns where and what they were trying to prevent in their view of monasticism.
Both make elaborate descriptions of what prayers and psalms should be said at night and during the day. Both make references to the extra amount said during the long winter nights and its detail must lend weight to its importance. Both refer to obedience, humility and silence. Saint Columbanus Generally being the more strict of the two.
Reading both the rules of Saint Columbanus and Saint Benedict shows us the contrast of that ascetic severity. Saint Columbanus was clearly greatly influenced by the desert fathers of Egypt. The desert fathers were there early Egyptian hermit monks that went into the desert for solitude and to live a difficult holy and ascetic life. Benedict it seems was making monastic life more accessible although both addressed many of the same points. Comparing the rules on food and drink is the first clear contrast we come across. Saint Columbanus meagre one meal a day sits in stark contrast to Benedicts offer of two meals with options (two to three) and a loaf of bread to sustain the monk throughout.
One clear reform focus of Saint Benedict was the monks relationship to the abbot. Saint Columbanus portrays the abbot as unquestionable no matter how good or bad he is where as Saint Benedict determines what the abbot should be like and About Calling the brethren to council. Saint Benedict seems to have been trying to put a stop to any possible corruption at the top level. Perhaps his lesser severity was a tool to help monks gain the courage to speak out against corruption. Both refer to the honour of chastity and this seemed a very big issue at the time. Whether Saint Columbanus had an ulterior motive for the advocation of chastity or not is debatable but Saint Benedicts states concerning the ordination of the abbot making clear that succession should be based on merit. This could perhaps deter succession corruption or inadequacies that may occur like that of hereditary succession in Saint Columbanus Ireland. Donnchadh Corrin lists numerous examples of this in his book Irish Antiquity. This became so much a problem in Ireland that reform was again called for by the cl d in the eight century when clergy began to be more frequently married.
While Saint Columbanus and Saint Benedict had similar concerns they had very different attitudes to how they should be dealt with. Many of these rules must have been brought up to combat offenses that were causing genuine problems. While Saint Benedict was looking for a general reform it seems Saint Columbanus was trying to prevent Irish monasticism from becoming the European monasticism that Saint Benedict was creating, whether conscious of this or not.
1. Kathleen Hughes, Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the sources (Cambridge 1972), p. 57.
2. John Ryan, Origins and Ideals of Irish Monasticism, Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Vol. 19 (1930) pp 637-648.
3. G.S.M. Walker, Rules Monks Rule, Sancti Columbani Opera (Dublin 1970) pp. 125-127.
4. Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages, The Rule of Saint Benedict c. 530, Patrologoa Latina Vol. 66, col. 215ff (London 1910), pp. 9-10.
5. Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages, The Rule of Saint Benedict c. 530, Patrologoa Latina Vol. 66, col. 215ff (London 1910), pp. 4-5.
6. Ibid., pp. 5-6.
7. Ibid., p. 12.
8. Donnchadh Corrin, Irish Antiquity (Dublin 1981), pp. 328-329.
The rule of Saint Columbanus (died 615 after spending time in Bangor before founding monasteries in Annegray, Luxeuil and Bobbio) and the Rule of Benedict (a popular european contemporary), clearly contrast the difference in opinion to how monasticism should be effected between semi-isolated Ireland and the changing more relaxed trend existing in Europe. Examining to the two documents will illustrate to us that contrast, what their similar and dissimilar concerns where and what they were trying to prevent in their view of monasticism.
Both make elaborate descriptions of what prayers and psalms should be said at night and during the day. Both make references to the extra amount said during the long winter nights and its detail must lend weight to its importance. Both refer to obedience, humility and silence. Saint Columbanus Generally being the more strict of the two.
Reading both the rules of Saint Columbanus and Saint Benedict shows us the contrast of that ascetic severity. Saint Columbanus was clearly greatly influenced by the desert fathers of Egypt. The desert fathers were there early Egyptian hermit monks that went into the desert for solitude and to live a difficult holy and ascetic life. Benedict it seems was making monastic life more accessible although both addressed many of the same points. Comparing the rules on food and drink is the first clear contrast we come across. Saint Columbanus meagre one meal a day sits in stark contrast to Benedicts offer of two meals with options (two to three) and a loaf of bread to sustain the monk throughout.
One clear reform focus of Saint Benedict was the monks relationship to the abbot. Saint Columbanus portrays the abbot as unquestionable no matter how good or bad he is where as Saint Benedict determines what the abbot should be like and About Calling the brethren to council. Saint Benedict seems to have been trying to put a stop to any possible corruption at the top level. Perhaps his lesser severity was a tool to help monks gain the courage to speak out against corruption. Both refer to the honour of chastity and this seemed a very big issue at the time. Whether Saint Columbanus had an ulterior motive for the advocation of chastity or not is debatable but Saint Benedicts states concerning the ordination of the abbot making clear that succession should be based on merit. This could perhaps deter succession corruption or inadequacies that may occur like that of hereditary succession in Saint Columbanus Ireland. Donnchadh Corrin lists numerous examples of this in his book Irish Antiquity. This became so much a problem in Ireland that reform was again called for by the cl d in the eight century when clergy began to be more frequently married.
While Saint Columbanus and Saint Benedict had similar concerns they had very different attitudes to how they should be dealt with. Many of these rules must have been brought up to combat offenses that were causing genuine problems. While Saint Benedict was looking for a general reform it seems Saint Columbanus was trying to prevent Irish monasticism from becoming the European monasticism that Saint Benedict was creating, whether conscious of this or not.
1. Kathleen Hughes, Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the sources (Cambridge 1972), p. 57.
2. John Ryan, Origins and Ideals of Irish Monasticism, Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Vol. 19 (1930) pp 637-648.
3. G.S.M. Walker, Rules Monks Rule, Sancti Columbani Opera (Dublin 1970) pp. 125-127.
4. Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages, The Rule of Saint Benedict c. 530, Patrologoa Latina Vol. 66, col. 215ff (London 1910), pp. 9-10.
5. Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages, The Rule of Saint Benedict c. 530, Patrologoa Latina Vol. 66, col. 215ff (London 1910), pp. 4-5.
6. Ibid., pp. 5-6.
7. Ibid., p. 12.
8. Donnchadh Corrin, Irish Antiquity (Dublin 1981), pp. 328-329.