The Monasterium
The Ancient (Celtic) Model of Church
From the 5th century until the 12th century within the British Isles, the Church understood itself and organized itself differently than it did in the eras that followed when the “parish model” developed within a more “Christendom” setting. Rather than see itself as an administrative unit of the broader society in which it existed - offering religious goods and services to a particular district of the assumed “Christian” population - the Church had a more robust understanding of its purpose and exhibited a thicker expression of life together. The Church intuitively knew that it would require more than a simple worship service and a midweek group to form a distinctive community with an identity shaped fully in reference to Christ.
A Monastic Imagination:
Part of what is distinctive about Celtic Christianity (Irish Christianity from this time period) was its monastic nature. Monasteries were not marginal or even merely parallel to the Church’s identity; they were central. Monasteries played an outsized role in shaping the imagination of what following Christ looked like for ordinary, everyday Christians (those who were not vowed monks). The monastic community was the beating heart of the Christian mission. It provided a living, embodied picture of communal life lived fully in reference to Christ. Additionally, the monastic community operated as a beautiful, relational serving community responsible for making things happen - teaching, hospitality, care of souls, cultivation of agriculture, care of the sick, etc.
What is somewhat unique about Celtic monastic communities is that they were not exclusively for those living in the traditional state of life-long celibacy. In other words, they were not for single people only. Married couples, families, those who were not necessarily committed to life-long singleness all participated to various degrees in the rhythms and disciplines of the vowed monastic community. This contributed to a multifaceted, thick-expression form of Christian identity emerging. This was not a “Sunday Christian” Christianity. It was fully-orbed faith, leading to a deep, rich community life. In this sense, the Celtic Church looked and operated more like a monastic community than what we think of as today’s typical parish congregation. All of this activity was tied to a particular place. There may or may not have been fancy buildings, but there was a shared stewardship of sacred space.
Some key features of the Monasterium:
Centrality of Prayer - Like most monasteries, the monasterium was built on a foundation of prayer, including a commitment to praying the divine hours / daily offices. In practice this meant gathering at various hours of each day for prayer and worship.
A life of Discipline - Celtic Christianity normalized living according to an adaptable, shared rule of life. Contemplative spirituality was a vital part of the rule of life.
Hospitality - Guests were a major part of the monasterium - pilgrims from other places, spiritual seekers, etc. The monasterium saw cultivation of space for others as a significant part of its mission.
Care for Creation - Celtic Christianity had a very high view of creation / natural world - caring for animals, cultivating gardens, and viewing all of creation as important to God.
Study - Celtic Christianity had a high view of learning and education. The monasterium played a major role in educating the local population. Copying manuscripts, preserving knowledge, maintaining a library - these were an important part of the monasterium
Cultivating Beauty - Celtic Christianity had a desire to cultivate beauty - from illuminated manuscripts to sculpture and carving to music - every aspect of life could be made beautiful in Christ.
Though our vision is shaped by the ancient Celtic monasterium, we are not trying to replicate it precisely (which would be impossible); we are merely echoing some key aspects of its identity.