Conversion of Conversion of the Celtsthe Celts

Saint Patrick (d.493)Saint Patrick (d.493) PatriciusPatricius was a Roman Briton and son was a Roman Briton and son

of a Roman city official.of a Roman city official. Kidnapped by Irish pirates when 16 Kidnapped by Irish pirates when 16

years old.years old. Sold as a slave in northwest Ireland, Sold as a slave in northwest Ireland,

working as a shepherd.working as a shepherd. After six years was able to escape.After six years was able to escape. Had a vision to return and convert the Had a vision to return and convert the

Irish.Irish.

430s430s: Patrick (now a priest) returns to : Patrick (now a priest) returns to Ireland by order of Ireland by order of Pope St. Celestine Pope St. Celestine II to help to help PalladiusPalladius, the Bishop of , the Bishop of Ireland.Ireland.

On his way, he learns that Palladius On his way, he learns that Palladius dies.dies.

The Pope makes Patrick the new The Pope makes Patrick the new Bishop of IrelandBishop of Ireland..

St. Patrick vs. the DruidsSt. Patrick vs. the Druids St. Patrick successfully St. Patrick successfully

converted northern Ireland converted northern Ireland despite opposition from the despite opposition from the pagan druids.pagan druids.

Thousands were baptizedThousands were baptized Hundreds of monasteries Hundreds of monasteries

foundedfounded St. Patrick governed Ireland St. Patrick governed Ireland

from his headquarters in from his headquarters in UlsterUlster..

Within a generation of St. Within a generation of St. Patrick’s work, the entire island Patrick’s work, the entire island converted to the Catholic Faith.converted to the Catholic Faith.

461461: He wrote the : He wrote the ConfessionsConfessions (autobiography).(autobiography).

His feastday is March 17His feastday is March 17thth..

Druids cutting the sacred mistletoe

Irish MonksIrish Monks Irish monasticism followed the Irish monasticism followed the

Eastern/Greek tradition rather Eastern/Greek tradition rather than the Benedictine rule.than the Benedictine rule.

Irish monasteries in 6Irish monasteries in 6thth century were the most century were the most important centers of important centers of learninglearning and and cultureculture..

The Catholic Church in The Catholic Church in Ireland was more Ireland was more monasticmonastic than in the rest of the Europe.than in the rest of the Europe.

All of the priests were monks.All of the priests were monks. Irish influence will decline by Irish influence will decline by

the the 99thth century century on account of on account of VikingViking attacks. attacks.

Monk working in a Scriptorium

The Conversion The Conversion ofof

EnglandEngland

St. Augustine of St. Augustine of CanterburyCanterbury

Benedictine monk at Benedictine monk at St. St. Andrew’s monasteryAndrew’s monastery in Rome in Rome (founded by (founded by Pope St. Gregory Pope St. Gregory the Greatthe Great).).

Evangelized the pagan and Evangelized the pagan and violent violent Anglo-SaxonsAnglo-Saxons..

The The CeltsCelts in England had in England had already been converted by the already been converted by the Irish monks.Irish monks.

The invading The invading AnglesAngles, , SaxonsSaxons, , and and JutesJutes nearly annihilated nearly annihilated the Celts in Britain.the Celts in Britain.

St. Augustine arrived in St. Augustine arrived in England with England with forty other forty other monksmonks..

ConversionsConversions EthelbertEthelbert, king of Kent, married the , king of Kent, married the

Catholic Catholic BerthaBertha, a Frankish princess , a Frankish princess (great granddaughter of Clovis)(great granddaughter of Clovis)

Ethelbert received St. Augustine and Ethelbert received St. Augustine and his monks warmly, but did not convert.his monks warmly, but did not convert.

Gave them the freedom to preach the Gave them the freedom to preach the Faith openly, and a house in Faith openly, and a house in Canterbury, his capital.Canterbury, his capital.

Christmas Day 597Christmas Day 597: more than ten : more than ten thousand Saxons were baptized in thousand Saxons were baptized in Canterbury.Canterbury.

Christianity spreads rapidly, as well as Christianity spreads rapidly, as well as hundreds of monasteries.hundreds of monasteries.

St. Augustine ordered all pagan temples St. Augustine ordered all pagan temples to be converted into Christian churches.to be converted into Christian churches.

Ethelbert, King of Kent (from All Souls College

Chapel)

Primate of EnglandPrimate of England601601: St. Gregory made Augustine the : St. Gregory made Augustine the PrimatusPrimatus of England (the first of England (the first Bishop; kinda of like the Pope of Bishop; kinda of like the Pope of England).England).

The Pope sent him the The Pope sent him the palliumpallium, a , a symbol of his office as chief symbol of his office as chief shepherd in England.shepherd in England.

St. Augustine consecrated other St. Augustine consecrated other bishops and sent them all over bishops and sent them all over England, such as Rochester and England, such as Rochester and London.London.

England would remain fervently England would remain fervently Catholic until the Protestant Catholic until the Protestant Revolution under “Queen” Elizabeth Revolution under “Queen” Elizabeth I.I.

St. Augustine of Canterbury’s St. Augustine of Canterbury’s feastday is May 27feastday is May 27thth..

Celtic vs. Roman Celtic vs. Roman TraditionsTraditions Irish monks were very busy Irish monks were very busy

evangelizing in northern England.evangelizing in northern England. The first native Englishman The first native Englishman

Archbishop of Canterbury was Archbishop of Canterbury was StSt. . DeusdeditDeusdedit in in 655655..

Southern England was dominated by Southern England was dominated by the more Roman tradition of St. the more Roman tradition of St. Augustine.Augustine.

The two traditions clashed, especially The two traditions clashed, especially over the question of when to over the question of when to celebrate Easter.celebrate Easter.

664664: The : The Synod of WhitbySynod of Whitby: : St. St. WilfridWilfrid argued for the Roman argued for the Roman tradition, which won approval.tradition, which won approval.

England adopted the Roman and England adopted the Roman and Benedictine traditions; the Celts Benedictine traditions; the Celts withdrew to the Island of Iona.withdrew to the Island of Iona.

Canterbury Cathedral