ABSTRACT
The genesis of new movement in monasticism was nearly always marked by the cooperation of women, sisters or close associates of the men. But Celtic monasticism was not averse to double houses and sometimes a lady ruled the whole foundation as in the case of S. Bridget of Kildare, one of Ireland's three great patron saints. In Ireland itself the lovely traditions of the ancient Celtic Church are fragrant to this day, yet despite their splendid missionary work, the early monks had little of their very own to give the world. Mixed indeed it may have been, but the ancient culture of Ireland was one of the most splendid products of any age of the Church. The pagans regarded with a half-amused contempt the rather weary controversies concerning the human and divine natures in the Person of Christ that so perplexed and disturbed the mind of the Eastern Church.
