The Book of Kells and Early Irish Texts: A Theological Reading

Module Description:

This course will introduce students to a representative sample of early Irish Christian texts. It will include texts from the Patrick tradition (Confession, Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus, Muirchu’s Life of Patrick), the monastic tradition (Rule of Columbanus, the Voyage of Brendan) and some devotional and poetic texts. It will consider the role of the bible in the life of the early Irish church through a reading of exegetical and homiletic texts (e.g. Irish versions of apocryphal texts, the Homilies of Columbanus). Some attention will be given to the Irish tradition of ‘soul care’ (anam cara) and the role of the early Irish Penitentials in the

evolution of the sacrament of reconciliation. It will set these texts within their wider theological context and reflect on the influence of the Irish church on mainland Europe in the early middle ages.

The module will study the history of the Book of Kells and other Books of the Gospel from this era.  The Chi-Rho page of the Book of Kells will be taken as a central point from which to discuss the theology of these manuscripts, as depicted in their illustrations.

Indicative Bibliography:

Connolly, H., Irish Penitentials and their Significance for the Sacrament of Penance Today (Dublin: Four Courts, 1995).
Davies, O. and O’Loughlin, T., Celtic Spirituality: Classics of Western Spirituality (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1999).
Henry, F., The Book of Kells: Reproductions from the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin, With a Study of the Manuscript by F. Henry (London: Thames and Hudson: London 1974).
Herren M.W. and Brown S.A., Christ in Celtic Christianity: Britain and Ireland from the Fifth to the Tenth Century (Rochester, NY: Boydell and Brewer, 2002).
Lewis, S., ‘Sacred Calligraphy: The Chi Rho Page in the Book of Kells,’ Traditio 36 (1980): 139-159.
O’Mahony, F. (ed.), The Book of Kells: Proceedings of a Conference at Trinity College, Dublin 6-9 September 1992 (Dublin: Scholar Press, for Trinity College Library, 1994).
Pulliam, H., Word and Image in the Book of Kells (Four Courts Press : Dublin, 2006).
Simms, G.O., Exploring the Book of Kells (Dublin: The O’Brien Press, 1988).

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Assess, in theological perspective, selected important texts of the early Irish Church.
• Interpret the distinctive elements of theological themes in the illustrations of the Book of Kells.
• Explain the distinctive treatment of key theological themes in the visual art of the High Crosses.

Methods of Assessment and Student Workload:

Continually assessed.