In the early middle ages (roughly AD 500-1000), European civilization was in serious decline. The climate had gotten colder and wetter, resulting in...
Columbanus (540-615): An Irish Missionary Monk
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The Irish Peregrini
One of the unique aspects of Irish Christianity was the practice of peregrinatio, or pilgrimage. To understand this, it is helpful to look at Irish...
Irish Christianity and Education
On a theological level, the most important contribution of the Irish church was its penitential practice. But on a cultural level, a holdover from...
The Irish Church’s Major Innovation
The Irish church's major innovation, measured in terms of its impact on the larger Latin church, was its approach to penitence. Sin in the Early...
The Center of Celtic Christianity
A unique feature of Celtic Christianity was the central role of monasteries throughout the “Celtic Fringe”—Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, and...
Celtic Christianity and Nature
In the previous post, I noted that scholars have been questioning whether there is such a thing as Celtic Christianity. They point out that there...
In Search of Celtic Christianity
“The term ‘Celtic’ is a magic bag into which anything can be put, and out of which almost anything can come…. Anything is possible in the Celtic...
St. Patrick’s Day
It is St. Patrick’s Day. I have been away for the last two weeks helping take care of a new grandchild and her sister, so I haven’t had much time to...
Sola Scriptura and the Creed
So far in this series, we have talked about the reason for the Council of Nicaea and its decision affirmed in the Nicene Creed, Constantine’s role...
The Further Development of the Nicene Creed
In the first post in our series for the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, I looked at the Arian controversy and the Council’s conclusion...
Constantine at Nicaea
There are a number of frankly bizarre conspiracy theories about the Council of Nicaea’s decision to affirm the deity of Christ, most of which...
1700 Years Ago …
This year is the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which met to settle the Arian controversy. These days, the Council itself seems to be...
Historical Tour of Ireland
This summer, I will be leading a historical tour of Ireland. The tour, which will include both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, will...
The Twelve Days of Christmas
In American culture, we think of the Christmas season as the time leading up to Christmas. Christmas celebrations frequently last only a few days,...
Victorian and Modern Advent and Christmas Traditions
In the previous post, I looked at two Advent and Christmas traditions with roots in the Middle Ages, crèches and caroling. There are others, of...