Religious Dimensions of Irish Culture: Enculturating Christianity. 24 April 2018 Selim Center for Lifelong Learning Fr. Jan Michael Joncas

Transcription

1 Religious Dimensions of Irish Culture: Enculturating Christianity 24 April 2018 Selim Center for Lifelong Learning Fr. Jan Michael Joncas

2 Enculturating Christianity: Two Models Peru: evangelization of a colony by a major 16 th -century Christian power that sought to impose its own cultural version of Christianity on a new habitat. Christianity remained to an extant superficial, failing to fuse with the deeper structures of Peruvian society. Congo: evangelization of a colony by a major 16 th -century Christian power through a relatively small number of individuals who did not wish, or were not able, to impose a system of specific cultural and social values. Christianity therefore fused with native Congolese systems at a deep level, becoming rooted in the society, but in turn experiencing change as the social and conceptual structures of that society produced new Christian spiritual, cultural and religious norms.

3 Examples of Roman Enculturation: Christ as Helios/Apollo

4 Christ as Jupiter

5 Pre-Christian Ireland

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13 Christian Foundations The Patrick Tradition The Brigit Tradition

14 The Patrick Tradition Patrick on the Great Works of God (The Confessio ) [5 th C AD] Patrick s Letter to the Soldiers The Dicta of Patrick The Life of Patrick by Muirchu

15 The Lorica, or Patrick s Breastplate I rise today: in power s strength, invoking the Trinity, believing in Threeness, confessing the Oneness, of Creation s Creator.

16 I rise today: in the power of Christ s birth and baptism, in the power of his crucifixion and burial, in the power of his rising and ascending, in the power of his descending and judging.

17 I rise today: In the power of the love of Cherubim, in the obedience of angels and service of archangels, in hope of rising to receive the reward, in the prayers of Patriarchs, in the predictions of prophets, in the preachings of Apostles, in the faith of confessors, in the innocence of holy virgins, in the deeds of the righteous.

18 I rise today: In Heaven s might, in Sun s brightness, in Moon s radiance, in Fire s glory, in Lightning s quickness, in Wind s swiftness, in Sea s depth, in Earth s stability, in Rock s fixity.

19 I rise today: With the power of God to pilot me, God s strength to sustain me, God s wisdom to guide me, God s eye to look ahead for me, God s ear to hear me, God s word to speak for me, God s hand to protect me, God s way before me, God s shield to defend me, God s host to deliver me: from snares of devils, from evil temptations, from nature s failings, from all who wish to harm me, far or near, alone and in a crowd.

20 Around me I gather today all these powers: against every cruel and merciless force to attach my body and soul, against the charms of false prophets, the black laws of paganism the fall laws of heretics, the deceptions of idolatry, against spells cast by women, smiths, and druids, and all unlawful knowledge that harms the body and soul.

21 May Christ protect me today: against poison and burning, against drowning and wounding, so that I may have abundant reward: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me; Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me; Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me; Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising; Christ in the heart of all who think of me, Christ on the tongue of all who speak to me, Christ in the eye of all who see me, Christ in the ear of all who hear me.

22 I rise today: In power of strength, invoking the Trinity, Believing in Threeness, Confessing the oneness, Of Creation s Creator. For to the Lord belongs salvation, And to the Lord belongs salvation, And to Christ belongs salvation. May your salvation, Lord, be with us always.

23 The Brigit Tradition The Life of St. Brigit the Virgin by Cogitosus [ AD] The Irish Life of Brigit

24 Ultan s Hymn Brigit, woman ever excellent, golden, radiant flame, Lead us to the eternal kingdom, the brilliant, dazzling sun. May Brigit guide us past crowds of devils, May she break before us the attack of every plague. May she destroy within us the taxes of our flesh, The branch with blossoms, the mother of Jesus.

25 The true virgin, easy to love, with great honor, I shall be forever safe with my saint of Leinster. One of the columns of the land with Patrick preeminent, The adornment above, the royal queen. May our bodies when we are old be in sackcloth, From her grace may Brigit rain on us. We pray to Brigit by the praise of Christ That we may be worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

26 Down Cathedral (Church of Ireland) Church of Ireland Cathedral Stands on the site of a Benedictine monastery, built in 1183 St. Patrick s remains are by legend buried in the graveyard.

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31 Christian Flowerings: Irish Monasticism

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34 All Alone in My Little Cell All alone in my little cell, without the company of anyone; precious has been the pilgrimage before going to meet death. A hidden secluded little hut, for the forgiveness of my sins: An upright, untroubled conscience toward holy heaven. Sanctifying the body by good habits, trampling like a man upon it: With weak and tearful eyes for the forgiveness of my passions.

35 Passions weak and withered, renouncing this wretched world; Pure and eager thoughts; let this be a prayer to God. Heartful lament toward cloudy heaven, sincere and truly devout confessions, Swift showers of tears. A cold and anxious bed, like the lying down of a doomed man: A brief, apprehensive sleep as in danger, invocations frequent and early.

36 Food as befits my station, precious has been the captivity: My dinner, without doubt, would not make me full-blooded. Dry bread weighed out, well we bow the head: Water of the many colored hillside, that is the drink I would tke. A bitter, meager dinner: diligently feeding the sick; Keeping off strife and visits; a calm, serene conscience.

37 It would be desirable, a pure and holy blemish: Cheeks withered and sunken, a shriveled leathery skin. Treading the paths of the gospel, singing Psalms at every hour; An end of talking and long stories; constant bending of the knees. May my Creator visit me, my Lord, my King; May my spirit seek him in the everlasting kingdom where he dwells.

38 Let this be the end of vice in the enclosures of churches; A lovely little cell among the graves, and I there alone. All alone in my little cell, all alone thus; Alone I came into the world, alone I shall go from it. If by myself I have sinned through pride of this world, Hear me lament for it all alone, O God!

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42 A Prayer to the Archangels for Every Day of the Week May Gabriel be with me on Sundays, and the power of the King of heaven. May Gabriel be with me always that evil may not come to me nor injury. Michael on Monday I speak of, my mind is set on him. Not with anyone do I compare him but with Jesus, Mary s Son. If it be Tuesday, Raphael I mention, until the end comes, for my help, One of the seven whom I beseech, as long as I am on the field of the world.

43 May Uriel be with me on Wednesdays, the abbot with high nobility, Against wound and against danger, against the sea of rough wind. Sariel on Thursday I speak of, against the swift waves of the sea, Against every evil that comes to us, against every disease that seizes us. On the day of the second fast, Rumiel a clear blessing I have loved, I say only the truth, good the friend I have taken.

44 May Pancel be with me on Saturdays, as long as I am in this yellowcolored world. May sweet Mary, with her friend, deliver me from strangers. May the Trinity protect me! May the Trinity defend me! May the Trinity save me from every hurt, from every danger.

45 Irish High Crosses

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49 Irish Eucharistic Objects

50 The Ardagh Hoard The Ardagh Chalice Stemmed cup Three elaborate pseudo-penannular brooches One true penannular brooch of the thistle type Deposited: ca. 900 AD Found: September 1868 in a ring fort near Ardagh, County Limerick Presently held: National Museum of Ireland (Dublin)

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55 The Derrynaflan Hoard Silver Chalice (9 th C) Bronze Strainer Ladle (8 th C) Paten (8 th C) Bronze basin (8 th 9 th C) Deposited: 9 th 10 th C Found: Killeens bog, County Tipperary, 17 February 1980 Presently held: National Museum of Ireland (Dublin)

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58 Irish Liturgical Manuscripts The Cathach/Psalter of St. Columba Book of Durrow The Book of Kells

59 The Cathach/Psalter of St. Columba 58 leaves written in Latin ca AD Vulgate version of Psalm 30:10 105:13 Interpretative heading or rubric before each psalm Cumdach (shrine) created for the MS ( AD) Battler MS presently held in the Royal Irish Academy Cumdach presently held in the National Museum of Ireland

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62 Book of Durrow Possibly written in Iona monastery ca AD Four Gospels in Latin Illuminations: carpet pages (pure geometric design) + evangelist portraits Presently held: Trinity College, Dublin

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67 Book of Kells Written in Latin ca. 800, probably begun at Iona and finished at Kells Contains the Four Gospels plus various prefatory texts and tables Comprises 340 folios of high-quality calf vellum, since 1953 bound in four volumes 10 full-page illustrations Presently held in Trinity College Library, Dublin

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71 Irish Hymnody Antiphonary of Bangor

72 Antiphonary of Bangor 36 leaves Originally written ca. 700 AD in Bangor, carried to Bobbio (37 miles NW of Genoa, founded by St. Columnbanus and buried there in 615) Contents: 1) 6 canticles 2) 12 metrical hymns [N.B. Sancti venite Christi corpus sumite = Ymnum quando comonicarent sacerdotes] 3) 69 collects for use at the Liturgy of the Hours 4) special collects 5) 70 versicles 6) Creed 7) Lord s Prayer

73 Michael Joncas: Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord 1. Draw near and take the body of the Lord; Come drink the holy blood for you outpoured. Saved by his body and his holy blood, With souls refreshed we give our thanks to God, With souls refreshed we give our thanks to God. REFRAIN: Venite, sumite Corpus Christi Domini: Venite, bibite sanctum Sanguinem Christi.

74 2. Christ, our Redeemer, God s eternal Son, Has by his cross and blood the victory won: He gave his life for greatest and for least, Himself the off ring and Himself the Priest, Himself the off ring and Himself the Priest. REFRAIN: Venite, sumite Corpus Christi Domini: Venite, bibite sanctum Sanguinem Christi.

75 3. Let us approach with faithful hearts sincere, Pledge of eternal life receiving here. Christ, who in this life, all the saints defends, Gives all believers life that never ends, Gives all believers life that never ends. REFRAIN: Venite, sumite Corpus Christi Domini: Venite, bibite sanctum Sanguinem Christi.

76 4. With heav nly bread make those who hunger whole; Give living water to the thirsty soul. Judge of the nations, to whom all must bow, In this great feast of love stay with us now, In this great feast of love stay with us now. REFRAIN: Venite, sumite Corpus Christi Domini: Venite, bibite sanctum Sanguinem Christi.

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