Comparison of Patrick’s works with Muirchu’s Life of

Comparison of Patrick’s works with Muirchu’s Life of St. Patrick : 

Comparison of Patrick’s works with Muirchu’s Life of St. Patrick

Muirchu’s Life of St. PatrickContext and Audience : 

Muirchu’s Life of St. PatrickContext and Audience Muirchu a Leinster monk Wrote his work at the end of the 7th C Written under the direction of Aed (Leinster Bishop) Context of debate over who should be Irish archbishop Ecclesiastical audience

Muirchu’s Life of St. PatrickPurpose : 

Muirchu’s Life of St. PatrickPurpose Not to advance a case for the bishop of Leinster to be archbishop Aed had placed Leinster under the authority of Armagh Muirchu argued for the primacy of St. Patrick and Armagh

Direct textual borrowings : 

Direct textual borrowings Significant borrowings from Confessio in the first 4 chapters Often uses identical words or phrases If not the meaning is similar

Slide 5: 

Muichu chapter 1 ‘ “You do well to fast, since you will soon be going to your home country,” and again: “See, your ship is ready,” though it was not near at hand but was perhaps two hundred miles away, where he had never been to’ Confessio 17 ‘... “You do well to fast, since you will soon be going to your home country;” and again:, very shortly after, I heard this prophecy: “See, your ship is ready.” And it was not near at hand but was perhaps two hundred miles away, and I had never been there and did not know a living sole their”

Slide 6: 

Muichu chapter 4 ‘And again a few years later he settled quietly as before in his home country with his kinfolk, who welcomed him as a son, begging him never ever, after such trials and tribulations, to leave them for the rest of his life. But he refused to agree...’ Confessio no. 22 ‘And again a few years later I was in Britain with my kinsfolk, and they welcomed me as a son and asked me earnestly not to go off anywhere and leave them this time, after the great tribulations which I had been through.’

Difference in emphasis : 

Difference in emphasis Chapter 4 onwards the texts diverge Patrick focuses on defending himself against his accusers Muirchu focuses on Patrick’s travels to the Continent and deeds in Ireland Doesn’t appear to have consulted the Epistle

Implications for the development of Patrick’s reputation : 

Implications for the development of Patrick’s reputation Forgotten? Traditional Irish Christian Muirchu created his links to Rome