The early Celtic Christians came into domains where Christianity was unknown and which were at times quite dangerous. These areas on the fringes of the former Roman Empire possessed rich cultures, but they were also highly turbulent regions torn by conflicts that often resulted in violent deaths or enslavement. In time, these early Christian missionaries and their descendants created a dynamic understanding of Christianity which included the virtues of these earlier cultures into their Christian beliefs while challenging the negative aspects of these societies by creating “colonies of heaven”.
This is something akin to the experience of Christians in our times and societies. There are many positive ideals which are sympathetic to our Christian beliefs, but there are also many social problems which challenge our faith and practices. Like the early Celtic saints, we often find our beliefs being greeted with bemusement, suspicion, or hostility. Yet, we find ourselves able through our faith to engage the challenges we face around us to nurture the most promising aspects of our contemporary cultures while also challenging its greatest problems.
Five Conversations about Celtic Christianity
Within awareness that many of the beliefs and practices of the early Celtic churches also continue to speak to us today, you will be invited to listen to a series of conversations about the beliefs and practices of Celtic Christianity and be encouraged to discern resonances of these traditions in your own vocation to serve God in the world around you.
These conversations include:
“The Celtic Imagination: myths and achievements”
with …
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“The Hopefulness of Celtic Christianity”
with …
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“Celtic Christianity and Nature”
with …
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“Celtic Christianity and Healing”
with …
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“Building Colonies of Heaven”
with …
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Review
After completing these conversations, consider the following statement:
“The true object of pilgrimage had always been a loving attention to God. Even in the heyday of the wanderers there had been a deep suspicion of pilgrims who did not already carry with them the God whom they sought on their journey. By leaving the religious settlement and home country, the ascetic also left his or her ‘place in the world’, that is, status. Beyond the normal boundaries of religious and social life there was no recognized position and therefore no protection. God alone became their country of origin and faithfulness to God was what gave them status.”
Philip Sheldrake
Living Between Worlds
What ideas or emotions does this evoke in you? Summarize these thoughts and feelings in your journal. Then, return to the Part 1 start page to consider the Celtic Christian vision in general.
To return to the Part 1 start page, please click here.
To return to the program main page, please click here.