Celtic Christianity

The word ‘Spirituality’ is used by different people in many different ways, but essentially it describes our approach to life – what we think and what we do as we try to follow the Way (following Jesus), our journey through life – the pain and the pleasure, the heartaches and hopes, the disappointments and dreams. Celtic Christianity is very much about following the Way in the everyday ordinariness of life. They didn’t try to separate the physical from the spiritual.

History

Patrick to Ireland in 432 AD. Columba from Ireland to Iona in 560 AD. Aidan 635 AD to Lindisfarne. Columbanus 591 AD to France and so on. Associated especially with Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Brittany, though local customs varied.

Features

1. Monasticism. Every church was seen as monastic, meaning people living in community.

2. The Sacramental principle. They believed that nothing was secular because everything was sacred. Nothing is outside of God’s love and grace. This means a celebration of ‘ordinariness’.

3. Contemplation and mission. Living in community meant exploring spirituality, building relationships, living in the story and living out the story and a commitment to mission, meaning ‘being sent or obedience to a task’.

4. Hospitality. Welcoming God into their hearts every day, but also welcoming other people because that person could be Christ.

5. Creation affirming. Columbanus said that ‘if you wish to understand the Creator, you must first understand his creation’. So they had a love of, and affinity with nature. It was not pantheism, or New Age, but love and respect for the physical environment.

6. Spiritual warfare. Christ was/is seen as a Warrior King fighting spiritual battles on our behalf. In particular he is seen as winning the spiritual battle against evil on the Cross but losing his life in the process. The sign of the Cross is regarded as really powerful. People are regarded as basically good (made in the image of God) but invaded by evil from which they need to be saved, rather than as ‘miserable sinners’ who need to be rescued (a subtle difference in emphasis).

7. Trinitarian belief. The Trinitarian concept was developed from about the second century and was formalized at the 1stCouncil of Nicaea (AD 325) and the 1st Council of Constantinople (AD 381) – the Nicene creed. An early Celtic Northumbrian prayer says ‘God is Father, Son and Spirit. Therefore God is Three in One. Therefore God is Community. If we are made in the image of God, then we will find our fulfilment in Community in relationships of love’. (See also St Patrick’s famous breastplate hymn.)

8. Love of learning. They encouraged study, especially of the Scriptures, but also encouraged study of the Arts, such as music. A yearning for wisdom rather than knowledge.

9. Understanding of time. They didn’t see time as chronological only. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Our Spiritual Journey is not a straight line. It is dynamic, often mundane and routine, but sometimes scary and uncertain. It is not about being ‘perfect’ but about God being present in the messiness of our everyday lives.  Chris Chatfield, April 2020, with thanks to the Northumbrian Community Beginner’s Guide and David Cole’s book entitled Celtic Lent (published by BRF).

Celtic Liturgy

A Celtic Invitation to Communion
This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord.
It is made ready for those who love Him
and those want to love Him more.
So come, you who have much faith and you who have little.
You who have been here often
and you who have not been for a long time,
You who have tried to follow Jesus and you who have failed.
Come, not because the Church invites you,
but because the Lord himself invites you.

Another Celtic invitation to Communion (George McLeod, Iona)
This is the Table of the Lord;
Come, not because you are strong but because you are weak.
Come, not because of any goodness of your own but because you need mercy and help.
Come, because you love the Lord a little and would like to love him more.
Come, because he loves you and gave himself for you.
 
A Celtic Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you;
May the wind be always at your back;
May the sun shine warm upon your face; 
And may the rains fall softy upon your fields 
and until we meet again, 
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be amongst you and remain with you now and always.