The Introduction of Christianity and its Effects on Ireland

After the introduction of Christianity in Ireland, the island saw several changes. Palladius and St. Patrick were the first bishops responsible for the spread of Christianity. St. Patrick’s time in Ireland seemed to have the most significant amount of conversions of the Irish from Paganism to Christianity. Christianity helped to provide Ireland with a religious, educational, and economic foundation.

            Christianity had existed in some parts of Ireland, before the Church sent the first bishops into Ireland to minister to the barbarians. Eleanor Hull in A History of Ireland and Her People suggested that Christianity may have spread to Ireland when the Roman Empire controlled Britain.[1] Paganism and Druidism were the main religious traditions on the island, while Christianity was only an isolated religion. In order to bring the Pagans to the Church, the Pope decided to send someone to minister to the Irish.

            In 423 C.E., Pope Celestine appointed Palladius as the first bishop of Ireland. Palladius was the first to travel to the locations of Christians in Ireland. Bede reported that a letter was received, which stated that Palladius and those that accompanied him were being killed. They were trapped between the disagreeable Irish and the sea.[2] After only a few years ministering in Wicklow, Ireland, Palladius left for what is now Scotland. Palladius had failed to convert the Irish, but Patrick would succeed in the same task.

            St. Patrick was the next to follow in Palladius’ footsteps. Patrick learned about the Irish culture and language during his time as a slave. Patrick escaped and vowed to return to the island to convert the Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick in his Confessions stated, “therefore may it never befall me to be separated by my God from his people whom he has won in this most remote land. I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.”[3] In 432 C.E., Patrick kept his vow and returned to Ireland as a bishop.

            Accounts of Patrick’s time ministering in Ireland provide many details about the conversion of the Irish to Christianity. Patrick’s techniques seem miraculous in accounts about his conversion of King Laoghaire. Muirchu Maccu Machtheni in Life by Muirchu described that the king converted after several of his men died following a confrontation with Patrick.[4] Many Irish converted after discovering that Laoghair had converted to Christianity. Patrick discovered that by converting kings, he was afterwards able to convert their subjects.

The clover was used by St. Patrick to describe
the three aspects of the triune/trinity to the Irish.

            Patrick had learned about the Irish during his previous time in Ireland and knew that he needed to combine aspects of Paganism with Christian practices. According to Carmel McCaffrey and Leo Eaton’s article, In Search of Ancient Ireland: Religion, Patrick combined aspects of Paganism and Christianity in order to make the conversion process smoother.[5] Despite the ease of transition, Christianity grew slowly at first. As more of the Irish converted, Christianity began to influence their culture.

             It was the establishment of the Catholic Church in Ireland that had the largest impact on Irish society. Muirchu noted the first accounts of the Catholic Church were of the Church of Armagh.[6] Patrick established even more churches while he ministered in different parts of Ireland. His ministries helped to promote the exchange of Pagan values with Christian values.

            After Patrick’s death there was a surge in conversions. McCaffrey and Eaton believed that the conversion was due to many unexplainable events, such as famine.[7] Another possibility for the conversions is that monasteries, such as the Church of Armagh, became important for their social and educational purposes. The monasteries became a part of the everyday life of the Irish.

            With the educational need in Ireland came the need for reading materials. Like many European countries the monasteries produced illuminated manuscripts. Hull claimed that the manuscripts in Ireland were placed in chapels, or prayer rooms.[8] Many of the manuscripts were produced by the monks that lived in the monasteries, who also served as educational instructors.

            Villages were formed around the Catholic monasteries so that students could live and study there. Hull emphasized that these communities were self-sustaining.[9] The monks and students would work together to provide the community with food, faith, education, and different textiles. These communities also helped the growth of the economy in Ireland.

            It is possible that the organization of the Catholic monasteries provided one more important change in Ireland. McCaffrey and Eaton argued that during the sixth century each monastery had their own military.[10] The purpose of the monastery’s military was to fight against the other Irish kings or other monastery’s military force. The armies were most likely used as a measure of protection in case any of the Irish kings attacked.

               As the first bishop in Ireland, Palladius attempted to bring Christianity to the island. Even though Palladius failed, St. Patrick was able to follow in his footsteps. Patrick helped to convert the Irish Pagans to Christianity and establish the Catholic Church. He also found ways to make Christianity more appealing to the Irish and make the conversion easier.

            After the monasteries were built, more changes spread throughout the lands. The Catholic monasteries provided religious and educational stability in Ireland. As the importance of monasteries grew, the communities that built up around them helped to boost the economy. This stable economy lasted, until the Norse invasions began and the monasteries were plundered.

            The introduction of Christianity in Ireland began a series of societal and cultural changes. Palladius and Patrick were the first Christian pioneers in a barbarous land. When the Pagans began converting to Christianity and the influence of the Catholic Church grew. The Catholic Church helped to provide Ireland with religion, education, and a stronger economy.

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[1] Eleanor Hull, A History of Ireland and Her People, vol. 1, (The Phoenix Publishing Company, 1931), chap. 2, http://www.libraryireland.com/HullHistory/EarlyChristianIreland1.php

[2] Bede, “Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book 1,” Medieval Sourcebook, accessed January 23, 2014. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.asp

[3] St. Patrick, The Confessions of St. Patrick (Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library), Kindle edition, loc. 212 of 235.

[4] Muirchu Maccu Machtheni, “Life by Muirchu,” in The Book of Armagh. ed. John Gwynn. (Cornell University Library, 2001), xxviii

[5] Carmel McCaffrey and Leo Eaton, “In Search of Ancient Ireland: Religion,” PBS, accessed January 25, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ancientireland/religion.html

[6] Machtheni, “Life by Muirchu,” xxxiv.

[7] McCaffrey and Eaton, “In Search of Ancient Ireland: Religion.”

[8] Hull, A History of Ireland and Her People.

[9] Ibid.

[10] McCaffrey and Eaton, “In Search of Ancient Ireland: Religion.”

Bibliography

Bede. “Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book 1.” Medieval Sourcebook. Accessed January 23, 2014. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-book1.asp

Hull, Eleanor. A History of Ireland and Her People. Vol. 1. The Phoenix Publishing Company, 1931. http://www.libraryireland.com/HullHistory/EarlyChristianIreland1.php

Machtheni, Muirchu Maccu. “Life by Muirchu.” in The Book of Armagh. Edited by John Gwynn. Cornell University Library, 2001.  http://archive.org/stream/cu31924091179337#page/n3/mode/2up

McCaffrey, Carmel, and Leo Eaton. “In Search of Ancient Ireland: Religion.” PBS. Accessed January 25, 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ancientireland/religion.html

St. Patrick. The Confessions of St. Patrick. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle edition.