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Summary The Writings of Columbanus: His Sermons
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This documents provides a summary of notes needed for the CCEA Religious Studies A2 Unit 5 Celtic Exam; specifically on Columbanus' Sermons
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The Sermons of ColumbanusThere are 13 sermons which are generally accepted to be the authentic work of Colum-
banus. Stancliffe identifies the background to the sermons as Trinitarian heresy which
plagued the church of northern Italy at the time of Columbanus.
She also points out that the sermons are "the only coherent exposition of Irish ascetic spiri-
tuality to have come down to us from the formative period of early
Irish monasticism.”
Sermon 1 - Concerning the faith
In this first sermon, Columbanus considers the nature of Christian faith and whether in-
deed it can be possible for the Christian to ever come to know God Echoes of heresy sur-
rounding the Trinity are evident in the opening of the first sermon, "God, one and three,
one in substance, one in power, three....” Columbanus argues that it can barely be possible
for the human mind to ever come to know God. Therefore "let no man venture to seek out
the unsearchable things of God ... the mode and cause of his existence ..these are un-
speakable, undiscoverable and unsearchable.” Rather than this searching for explanation,
Columbanus recommends to "only believe in simplicity.” God can only be found in faith,
not words.
Sermon 2 - The inner self
Columbanus continues the theme in Sermon 2 that "human argument or skill or any vain-
glorious philosophy ... cannot be our teacher about God” Columbanus says that human ef-
fort is better placed cleaning the heart "from harmful motions of the vices". This sermon
says that outward religion is of no use if there is not a transformation of the inner self. The
sermon says, “Idle then is a religion decorated with prostrations of the body, equally idle is
the mere mortification of the flesh ... unless accompanied by moderation of the mind". The
faith, Columbanus says, should bring about an inner transformation of the person, all vices
such as "pride, ill-will, anger," should be replaced by "lowliness, gentleness mercy, justice”
His central message is that it is what is on the inside that counts.
Sermons 3-6 - A passing world
Sermons 3-6 all emphasise the passing nature of this world, which Columbanus says should
be rejected in favour of the Christians true home in heaven.
In Sermon 3, Columbanus concludes that this indeed will be hard work and monks should
"apply ourselves in duty and justice.” Columbanus emphasises "the wise man should love
nothing here, since nothing lasts.” He argues that "No other outward thing ought to be
loved except eternity and the eternal will.” Some critics point out that Columbanus here is
world-avoiding. It would seem that Columbanus is implying that the Christian has no alle-
giance to this world. McMaster argues that the reader should interpret this more
metaphorically. The human life in this world “requires inner courage and moral strength"
given that the true home of the Christian is the world beyond this one”.
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