St. Patrick was a Roman Catholic and said Mass.

[macdarawhitfield]

I don't think you know what you're talking about. Bishops in Pre-Norman Ireland were fairly powerful, even it that power was in dignity and not diocesan based, as it would be after the 12th century. The church itself was rigidly aristocratic, it's ranks frequently filled by disinherited collateral branches of powerful dynasties. Not to mention the fact that the idea of confession was an Irish one, spread throughout Western Europe by Irish peregrenatio monks, and based on the idea of anamchara, i.e. having a confessor to divulge ones sins to.

I am no expert in these matters but all I have read about the early church here seems to indicate it was based on the monastic tradition and not on the diocese.No doubt the powerful clans decided who would be abbot or even - in later times- priest.Surely that was why the church began to stamp out married clergy,in order to retake control from the 'erenagh' families? In which they succeeded but at what cost?

[Riadach]

I am no expert in these matters but all I have read about the early church here seems to indicate it was based on the monastic tradition and not on the diocese.No doubt the powerful clans decided who would be abbot or even - in later times- priest.Surely that was why the church began to stamp out married clergy,in order to retake control from the 'erenagh' families? In which they succeeded but at what cost?

Well, often this erenagh and comharba positions had become very much a position of authority with immense power and wealth, often held by men who weren't even in orders. It didn't prevent a great deal of learning from occuring, even if the transfer to lay power lead to more learning in Irish than in Latin, hence the massive amount of Middle Irish translations, and Middle Irish being one of the most extensive of all medieval vernaculars. In fact it may have encouraged it. The old doctrine of sine le fine febhta le flaith eagna le heglais, listing out the headship requirements for different groups, said 'oldest for kin-group, best for kingship, wisest for churches' meant any prospective comharba or erenagh(airchinnech) had to be the most learned within that group, hence they had a lot of impetus. However, this scrambling for office and the benefices therein would not have served the ordinary parishioner, although that term is anachronistic for this period. Say what you like about the Roman impositions, but they had more concern for the ordinary catholic, and wanted to ensure that some funds at least, were being used for that purpose.

[gaius hippingo]

Its amazing the levels of stupidity of people in Ireland in general and specifically in the audience of Liveline. St. Patrick was an agent of the Roman Empire, sent here to quell the burgeoning Religion of Celtic Christianity, more akin to Coptic Christianity than the Pauline Roman Church.

Every 17th of March we celebrate what was in essence, an enemy of the state. I dont celebrate any Saints as it is, seeing as the whole issue of Sainthood is utter bol-lox and only taken seriously by weak minded fools. As in Joseph Ratzinger had the power to confer Sainthood on anyone, what a hilarious notion.

[Catalpa]

Its amazing the levels of stupidity of people in Ireland in general and specifically in the audience of Liveline. St. Patrick was an agent of the Roman Empire, sent here to quell the burgeoning Religion of Celtic Christianity, more akin to Coptic Christianity than the Pauline Roman Church.

Every 17th of March we celebrate what was in essence, an enemy of the state. I dont celebrate any Saints as it is, seeing as the whole issue of Sainthood is utter bol-lox and only taken seriously by weak minded fools. As in Joseph Ratzinger had the power to confer Sainthood on anyone, what a hilarious notion.

St. Patrick was an agent of the Roman Empire, sent here to quell the burgeoning Religion of Celtic Christianity, more akin to Coptic Christianity than the Pauline Roman Church.

er...what?

Who provided you with this priceless piece of information?

Every 17th of March we celebrate what was in essence, an enemy of the state

There was no Irish State in the 5th century for him to be an enemy of ya noodle!