Editing Celtic Christianity (section)

===Peregrinatio===
A final distinctive tradition common across Britain and Ireland was the popularity of ''peregrinatio pro Christo'' ("exile for Christ"). The term ''peregrinatio'' is [[Latin]], and referred to the state of living or sojourning away from one's homeland in Roman law. It was later used by the [[Church Fathers]], in particular Saint [[Augustine of Hippo]], who wrote that Christians should live a life of ''peregrinatio'' in the present world while awaiting the [[Kingdom of God]]. Augustine's version of ''peregrinatio'' spread widely throughout the Christian church, but it took two additional unique meanings in Celtic countries.<ref name=Corningperegrinatio>{{harvnb|Corning|2006|p=17}}</ref>

In the first sense, the penitentials prescribed permanent or temporary ''peregrinatio'' as penance for certain infractions. Additionally, there was a tradition of undertaking a voluntary ''peregrinatio pro Christo'', in which individuals permanently left their homes and put themselves entirely in God's hands. In the Irish tradition there were two types of such ''peregrinatio'', the "lesser" peregrinatio, involving leaving one's home area but not the island, and the "superior" peregrinatio, which meant leaving Ireland for good. This voluntary exile to spend one's life in a foreign land far from friends and family came to be termed the "white martyrdom".<ref name=woods>{{cite journal |url=http://www.spiritualitytoday.org/spir2day/853735woods.html#3 |last=Woods |first=Richard |title=The Spirituality of the Celtic Church |journal=Spirituality Today |date=Fall 1985 |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=243–255 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103040938/http://www.spiritualitytoday.org/spir2day/853735woods.html#3 |archive-date=3 November 2013 }}</ref>

Most ''peregrini'' or exiles of this type were seeking personal spiritual fulfilment, but many became involved in missionary endeavours. The Briton Saint Patrick became the evangelist of Ireland during what he called his ''peregrinatio'' there, while [[Samson of Dol|Saint Samson]] left his home to ultimately become bishop in Brittany. The Irishmen [[Columba]] and Columbanus similarly founded highly important religious communities after leaving their homes.<ref name=Corningperegrinatio/> Irish-educated English Christians such as Gerald of Mayo, the [[Two Ewalds]], [[Willehad]], [[Willibrord]], [[Wilfrid]], [[Ceolfrith]], and other English all followed these Irish traditions.