Celtic Christianity Syllabus- Fall 2001

RS 339A: Celtic Christianity

Syllabus- Fall 2001
M/F 1:00-2:15pm
JE 380

Instructor:	Raymond A. Patterson
Office:	JE 148
Phone:	ex. 2427
E-mail:	rpatterson@smcvt.edu
Web Page:	http://academics.smcvt.edu/rpatterson
Office Hours:	Tu W	11-12 am 2:30-4 pm and by appointment

Course Description

RS 339: Celtic Christianity is divided into three segments:

1)	An overview of the introduction of Christianity into Celtic lands, including Patrick’s mission, as well as the subsequent "Golden Age" of monastic expansion in Ireland
2)	An examination of Celtic Christian culture and spiritual reform movements in the period before the Viking invasions
3)	A consideration of further developments in the Irish Church in the period between the Viking invasions and the coming of the Normans in the Twelfth century

Required Texts:

The text for the class, available at the bookstore, is:

Davies, Oliver, trans. and ed. Celtic Spirituality. New York: Paulist Press, 1999.

Other readings will be made available on Reserve. With the new library system, students should search the library catalog for the reserve readings, which are organized by the title of the articles listed under my name or the course number. Select the title to see the folder number of the article. Please do not mark the Reserve readings when taking notes.

Class Requirements:

Regular attendance is expected of all students. If a student is unable to attend class, he or she should notify the instructor. More than one absence without the instructor’s permission will negatively impact the final grade. Frequent absences will result in a failing grade.

Students should be on time for class. Arriving late or leaving during the class period can be disruptive for the instructor and other members of the class. Excessive tardiness will be reflected in a lower grade for class attendance.

Students will be evaluated on the following course work:

Mid-term Exam	25%
Class Presentation	15%
Term Paper Project (10-15 pages) (including Annotated Bibliography)	30%
Take-home Final Exam	20%
Daily Questions/Class Participation/Attendance	10%

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy established by St. Michael’s College and distributed to all students.

Class Schedule

(The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule. Students will be notified in class of any changes.)

August 29	Class Requirements Introduction-Is there a Celtic Christianity?
400-700: Missions and Foundations
September 3	Continental Christianity in the Fifth Century Selections from the Life of Anthony, 8-19, 36-41, 64-69 Life of Martin of Tours (on reserve) Map: Barbarian Invasions
September 5	Pre-Christian Ireland Selections from the Mythological and Ulster Cycles, in Over Nine Waves, 50-62, 126-140. (on reserve) Navan Fort
September 10	Patrick’s Mission Declaration (Confessio) and Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus, in Celtic Spirituality, 67-89.
September 12	Irish Society in the Sixth and Seventh Century Kelly, Guide to Early Irish Law, 1-15, 125-157. (on reserve)
September 17	Irish Church in the Sixth and Seventh Century Cambrai Homily, in Celtic Spirituality, Irish Canons (handout)
September 19	Patrick and Armagh Muirchú’s Life of Patrick, in Celtic Spirituality, 91-117. Tírechán’s Account of St. Patrick’s Journey, 154-174. (on reserve)
September 24	Brigit and Kildare Cogitosus’ Life of Brigit, in Celtic Spirituality, 122-139.
September 26	Columba and Iona Selections from Adomnán’s Life of Columba (on reserve) Iona panaroma
October 1	Peregrinatio and Columbanus Columbanus’ Rule and Homilies selections, in Celtic Spirituality, 246-256, 353-362.
October 3	Christian Britain and the Council of Whitby Selections from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History (on reserve) Lindisfarne Whitby
October 8	Columbus Day Holiday
October 10	Mid-Term Exam

700-900 AD: Celtic Culture and Reform
October 15	Penitentials "Penitentials of Gildas and Cummean," in Celtic Spirituality, 227-245.
October 17	Célí Dé Reform Rule of Tallaght (on reserve)
October 22	Liturgy/Martyrologies Selections from Stowe Missal and Martyrology of Oengus
October 24	Art I: Illuminated manuscripts and reliquaries TBA
October 29	Art II: Celtic Crosses and Architecture TBA
October 31	Poetry TBA
November 5	Annals Annals

Ireland after the Viking Invasions: 900-120
November 7	Viking invasions TBA
November 12	Hagiography revisited Selections from Vita Tripartita and Irish Life of Brigit (on reserve)
November 14	Irish Apocrypha Evernew Tongue, in Celtic Spirituality, 321-327.
November 19	Vision literature Vision of Adomnan, in Celtic Spirituality, 330-340.
November 21	[Thanksgiving Holiday]
November 26	Voyage Literature Voyage of Brendan, in Celtic Spirituality, 155-190.
November 28	Satire Vision of MacCongline
December 3	Twelfth Century Ireland Selections from Bernard of Clairvaux and Gerald of Wales (on reserve)
December 5	Coming of the Normans Life of Declan (on reserve)
December 12	Take-home Final Exam Due- 1 pm