Chapter La Confessio di Patrizio d’Irlanda: il ruolo dell’elemento autobiografico nella letteratura confessionale tardoantica

Abstract

This article studies the role of the autobiographical element in confessional literature, particularly in St Patrick’s Confessio . After a general reflection on the function of autobiography in 5th-6th century confessions as subordinate to the praise of God, I analyse Patrick’s text, whose special situation – it was born as a self-defence before a court and later transformed into a confessional work – shows the link between the genus iudiciale and the confession/autobiography and allows to reflect on other aspects of the confessional genre, such as the ideas of the homo interior and self-knowledge, as paths to the love of God and neighbour, achieved by true devotion, which Patrick cultivates not only through his ministry and thanks to his designation as apostolus vocatus , successor of St Paul and the apostles; but also through the writing of his text.