St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny is interesting in very many ways.
As with all ancient cathedrals in the Republic of Ireland it is Church of Ireland (Anglican, Protestant) not Roman Catholic. This is an ecclesiastical remnant of British rule when Ireland's ancient foundations departed Catholicism with the English establishment rather than the local majority.
It also contains the remains of an Anchorite Cell.
The nun would enter the cell, thereby dying to secular life. Dedicated to a life of prayer, the cells of Anchorites were usually by the altar so they could receive the Eucharist. On entering the cell, the Bishop recited a rite that closely resembled the funeral liturgy: this really was dying to the world.
Protestants eschew such medieval practices. I was, however, speaking to a Christian lady recently. She had been baptised many moons before, but no longer attended any church (or Eucharist) on account of being far too busy.
I thought of this when I thought of the Anchorite.
I'm too Protestant to believe it is a great thing for a young woman to be in a cell by the altar for life. But I can't help feeling it has its strengths over against a life that has forsaken the altar entirely for a life barely Christian in its expression at all.
It also contains the remains of an Anchorite Cell.
The nun would enter the cell, thereby dying to secular life. Dedicated to a life of prayer, the cells of Anchorites were usually by the altar so they could receive the Eucharist. On entering the cell, the Bishop recited a rite that closely resembled the funeral liturgy: this really was dying to the world.
Protestants eschew such medieval practices. I was, however, speaking to a Christian lady recently. She had been baptised many moons before, but no longer attended any church (or Eucharist) on account of being far too busy.
I thought of this when I thought of the Anchorite.
I'm too Protestant to believe it is a great thing for a young woman to be in a cell by the altar for life. But I can't help feeling it has its strengths over against a life that has forsaken the altar entirely for a life barely Christian in its expression at all.
