History of the Monastery System

In the early Church there were Ascetes, that is, men and women who sought the secret of the more perfect life.

They lived in perpetual poverty and chastity, prayed and fasted much, and practised other austerities. They considered it their duty to visit and assist the sick, the poor and the prisoners.

From the earliest times young women consecrated their virginity to God. In the third century this was done solemnly in the presence of the bishop, from whom they received the veil which they wore whenever they appeared in public.

They enjoyed universal esteem and at the religious services places of honour were reserved for them. St.Cyprian calls the consecrated virgins the "elite of the faithful, who have found the pearl of great price and though still living on the earth belong to the family of the Angels."

During the Emperor Decian's persecution, Paul, a rich young man of Thebes in Egypt, retired to a cave at the foot of a mountain and for 90 years led the life of a hermit. He spent his days in prayer and contemplation; a palm-tree furnished him with food and clothing.

Shortly before his death in 340 St Paul the Hermit was visited by St.Antony of the Desert, "Father of monasticism," an institution that was to play such an important part in the subsequent history of the Church.

In these men and women the spirit triumphed over the flesh, grace over nature, the divine power of Christianity over a world steeped in vice and luxury. So wrote John Laux in his Church History.

The famous St.Athenasius visited St.Antony and took the monastic concept with him to Rome and thence to Gaul where he gave it to St.Martin of Tours in northern Gaul who founded there the Marmoutiers monastery.

St.Patrick, convinced that he was called by God to go as a missionary to Ireland, set to work to prepare himself for his lifework. After spending some time in the monastery of St.Honoratus at Lerins in northern Gaul, he settled at nearby Auxerre. Here he remained nearly 15 years, devoting himself to prayer and study and the exercise of the function of deaconship under the holy bishops Amator and Germanus.

St Germanus no doubt with the consent of Pope Celestine consecrated Patrick as bishop and sent him to Ireland with a few chosen companions. Patrick landed at Wicklow in 432. He was soon joined by a number of zealous Irishmen who he sent to Auxerre to be trained for the sacred ministry.

Thoroughly acquainted as he was with the monastic system of the Continent, it was natural that Patrick should establish monasteries in Ireland.

He himself writes that "innumerable sons of Scots [meaning the Irish] and daughters of kings...became monks and virgins of Christ."

The monastery system was spread by St.Patrick's Irish successors like St.Columba to Scotland. St.Aidan spread it to England, St.Columban to northern Europe at the same time as St.Benedict in Italy was establishing his successful version based on the timeless Rule of St.Benedict.