Households of God

The Regular Canons and Canonesses of St Augustine and of Prémontré in Medieval Ireland


Martin Browne OSB & Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, editors

Hardback €45.00
Catalogue Price: €50.00
ISBN: 978-1-84682-788-4
November 2019. 352pp; colour illustrations

Although the most numerous and widespread of all the religious orders in medieval Ireland, the regular canons and canonesses have been somewhat neglected in Irish historiography. This collection, the proceedings of the 2017 Glenstal History Conference, examines the role of the canonical movement (those who followed the rule of St Augustine) in Ireland from its emergence as an expression of the Vita Apostolica in the twelfth century, through the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor period until its eventual disappearance in the early nineteenth century.

This volume combines the evidence for the archaeology, architecture and history of the movement with that relating to its cultural, economic, liturgical, intellectual and pastoral activities. Between them, the contributors provide fascinating insights on a neglected aspect of Irish monastic history while situating it in a broader European ecclesial context. 

Contributors: Edel Bhreathnach, Martin Browne OSB,Miriam Clyne, Tracy Collins, Christy Cunniffe, Adrian Empey, Marie Therese Flanagan, Clemens Galban CAN. REG., Arlene Hogan, Rachel Moss, Louise Nugent, Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, Tadhg O’Keeffe, Pádraig Ó Riain and Brendan Scott.

Martin Browne OSB and Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB are monks of Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick.