The Monastic Rules of Visigothic Iberia - eTheses Repository ...

Naturally, it cannot be presumed that the average listener would have noticed such
borrowings, have read, or have even been aware of the full scope of Patristic literature that
lay before the writers. Nevertheless, in the writer‟s mind the inclusion of material from
earlier sources may have added a sense of kudos, even if this were not pertinent to the
immediate audience. Conversely, the notion cannot be dismissed that borrowings are simply
indicative of the act of literary mimesis. 427 Fear (2007) makes an interesting point about the
use of patristic sources in the open letter of St. Patrick, written to petition the
excommunication of the follows of the pirate Coroticus; “[Patrick‟s Epistula] is peppered
with biblical and patristic quotations and allusions. These are designed precisely to give the
impression that he is doing no more than what is required by sacred scripture” (ibid.: 326).
Exactly the same sentiment could be equally applied to the teachings of the monastic rules.
The presence of biblical and patristic borrowings in the monastic rules should be seen
from various perspectives: first, they are representative of the importance placed upon these
texts within the Christian literary diet of the time; second, they serve to add weight to a text,
since they would no doubt have imparted value; third, they are educational. Although
biblical exegesis formed an important part of a monk‟s life, those who did not know the
Scripture perhaps as well as was to be expected could take advice and place it into context
from the actions of biblical characters and the teachings of the Church Fathers.
427 Indeed, borrowings, where they occur, are not normally direct literal borrowings, but rather textual
similarities. In this sense, they are perhaps not aimed to impress the readership, but are instead
indicative of the reading and education of the authors.
166