The first Celtic monasteries were merely settlements where the priests and laity, men, women, and children — lived together as a clan.  Later, actual monasteries of monks and nuns were formed, and later the cloistered life was developed. The desire for extreme austerity, in contrast to licentious hedonism of continental Europe, has been a hallmark of Irish monasticism to today.  The eremitical life was regarded as the height of monasticism, and the means of perfection have been austerity, poverty, obedience, celibacy, fasting, prayer vigils, and hard work.

Irish monks are famous for preserving literature, history, and philosophy from ancient civilizations in Asia Minor and Europe by copying and translating ancient documents and literature in addition to copying contemporary manuscripts of various genres.  In the Dark Ages, the monastic scribes preserved Western history in their scriptoria by diligently copying by hand, with quill and ink, borrowed and acquired scrolls and books.

Irish monks and friars have also gained renown by leaving their cloisters to re-evangelize continental Europe and proselytize in Africa and the Americas.

Our religious practices are means to an end and only that, and they have legitimacy only to the extent that they help us build a pure and trusting heart that does the deeds of love.
This brings us to today’s question: Are you just hanging out or hiding in your church and your religious practices?  Or are you being transformed?  Is your heart being reshaped or are you just treading water? – Father Paul Pecchie

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A brief on religion pertaining to U.S. Hispanics may easily be begun by noting that most Hispanics in the U.S. share Roman Catholicism as a faith tradition. Surveys of U.S. Hispanics find that membership in the Roman Catholic Church is an important part of many U.S. Hispanics’ self-identity.  Lands that were colonized by Spanish Roman Catholics tend to have population majorities which are Roman Catholic. The U.S.A. is an exception, as it does not have a Roman Catholic majority component of its population.  However, most Hispanics in the U.S., like the majority of Hispanics in Latin American nations, self-identify as Roman Catholic when surveyed for church affiliation or religious practices.  An estimate is that two-thirds of U.S. Hispanics are Roman Catholic and fifteen percent are evangelical Protestant.  About eight percent of Hispanics report that they are atheistic or agnostic. About one percent claim to have a non-Christian faith tradition (Pew, 2008). »→