Christian Celtic Spirituality draws its inspiration from the lives of the Celtic Saints, who lived at a time when Christianity was new to these islands, and before the centralisation of Christian practice changed the nature of the Celtic Church forever – up to the Synod of Whitby in 664 A.D.
In the prayers of the early church, in their passion and their practice of the faith there is a clarity and simplicity and wisdom that speaks directly to many of the concerns of our age.
Here are some aspects of Celtic Spirituality that may inspire you:-
Love of the natural world
The prayers of the Celtic Saints are filled with experiences of God’s presence in creation, simplicity of living in harmony with creation, and awareness of the sacredness of all things. As it says in the first chapter of Genesis, all things originate in the Divine Source, and so that Presence permeates all of creation. This is not to say that evolution is wrong – but that the origin of all things is in the Divine Source. It is constantly repeated in Genesis chapter 1 – ‘And God looked at all He had made, and said: ‘It is good.’ This speaks to us of ‘Original Goodness’. It reminds us of the Sacred Presence that is to be found in us and in the material world. Columbanus said – ‘If you want to know God, first get to know His creation.’
Community
The Celtic Church encouraged people to live and work as small communities, following a less hierarchical model of Church. The Celtic Church was a loose grouping of local communities of prayer, learning and hospitality.
Hospitality
The Celtic Church believed in openness and welcome to the stranger. They inspire us to be open and accepting, without judgement. ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to stangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels unawares.’ (Hebrews 13.2)
“I saw a stanger last night. I put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place, and in the sacred name of the Triune, he blessed myself and my house and my cattle and my dear ones. And the lark said in her song, ‘Often, often, often goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.’ (A Celtic rune of hospitality used by the Iona Community).
Monastic Influences
Following the experiences of the desert fathers and mothers, and drawing inspiration from the daily rule of life of ancient monasticism. Faith is not just for one hour on a Sunday – but for the whole of life. The Sacred Presence is for all times and all places.
The practice of the Anamchara – ‘The Friend of the Soul.’
A soul friend is someone who walks the spiritual journey with you as a source of wise and advice and encouragement. This practice is being reclaimed in our day through spiritual direction.
Art and Music
The Celtic Church produced wonderful works of Art e.g. The Book of Kells and the wonderfully elaborate High Crosses.
Art and music enable us to perceive with the senses as well as the intellect, and to use both the right and left brain. ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways’ said Elizabeth Barrett Browning. In worship our love of God can be expressed through the whole of our humanity, including the senses.
Pilgrimage
The Celtic Church had a particular kind of martyrdom which they called ‘white martyrdom’ – for those who left home and family behind and went out into the world as pilgrims for the sake of the Gospel. Today many are rediscovering the power of pilgrimage and the ‘Peregrini’ by going to ancient sacred places such as Iona, Lindisfarne, Ireland – and Armagh. The Celtic Saints called these places ‘thin places’ because there seemed to be only a thin veil between this world and the world of Spirit.
