Sacred Sisters

Maeve Callan, Associate Professor of Religion and Women's and Gender Studies at Simpson College, received her Ph.D. in Religion from Northwestern University and her M.Phil. in Women's Studies from Trinity College Dublin. She is the author of The Templars, the Witch, and the Wild Irish: Vengeance and Heresy in Medieval Ireland.

• Introduction A Golden Age of Gender Relations? A Responsible Usable Past Book Overview Memories of the Future Ch 1. "Founded Upon the Rock Which is Christ": What Patrick and His Promoters Reveal about Women in the Early Irish Church Patrick in his own words Women in Patrician propaganda Syneisaktism Conclusion Ch 2. "A New and Apostolic Band of Virgins Arose": Darerca, an Exceptionally Learned Abbess Untangling the sources Doctissima abbatissa, an exceptionally learned abbess Community Gender dynamics Diversity within community Conclusion Ch. 3. "The Safest City of Refuge": Brigid the Bishop Many Lives, little certainty Brigid, the early years Consecration and ordination Double monasteries Meeting women's needs Secunda Brigida Conclusion Ch. 4. "God is always present with those who exemplify such devotion": Íte, Foster-Mother of the Saints of Ireland The path to the holy life Prophecy and patronage Asceticism Conclusion Ch. 5. "Do Not Harass My Sisters": Samthann, An Abbess Not To Be Crossed Urney Constructing Clonbroney Cáin Adomnáin (Adomnán's Law) The mercy of Samthann Female solidarity Wisdom The célí Dé Conclusion Ch. 6. "I place myself under the protection of the virgins all together": Sister saints with something like a Life Lasair, "Hell thereafter from me" Attracta, "Wise in words and honorable in all things" Cranat, "My body to be thus under [my] control" Gobnait, "How many years make up a nameplace" Dígde, "They shall never be without some wonderful glorious nun/old woman [caillech] among them" Conclusion Conclusion Appendices Appendix A: The Sites (photos and a map) Appendix B: The Sources (with an introduction) i. Catalogue of the Saints of Ireland ii. Darerca iii. Brigid iv. Íte v. Samthann Appendix C: Calendar of Feast Days Appendix D: Pronunciation Guide Appendix E: Glossary