“Celtic spirituality was deeper and more primal that we are to ourselves.” Esther de Waal

“If you’re looking for theology, seek a poet.”  Welsh saying

Esther de Waal is a well-renowned author and expert on Benedictine and Celtic Theology.  Her books include “The Celtic Way of Prayer”, “Every Earthly Blessing” and “The Way of Simplicity.”  I met her recently.  Not personally, but on a webinar about Celtic Prayer.  It was a fascinating and fulfilling experience.  She covered a great deal of ground during our time together, highlighting the central place of The Cross, Trinity, and Creation in Celtic belief and practices, and how they were conveyed in poetry and blessings.

The Celtic cross is uniquely recognizable with the round top that forms the capstone.  The circle represents wholeness and completeness.  It also is a symbol of the two great circles, the sun and the moon, which ruled over creation.

Creation was a central element to the life of faith of the Celts.  Everything revolved around creation.  God was not only the creator, but the “indweller”.  One could find God by simply being in creation.  The ancient Celtic Priest and Theologian Duns Scotus summed it up in the term “Panentheism”, in which God, though not defined by creation, is nonetheless found dwelling in creation.

Creation, in many regards, reflects the truth of The Holy Trinity.  Mankind, the world, and the “other world” were all interconnected.  Sky, earth, and water were separate yet one.  More examples could be given.  The point is there wasn’t a severe separation between God, mankind, and creation, but rather a harmonious unity.

The Gospel of St. John was the favorite of the Celtic Christians.  Undoubtedly due to the way it highlights these.  And also for its poetic style.

Poetry was a way of capturing in words the beautiful flow which the Celts recognized.  The bards were highly respected and key people in the community.

As were blessings.  One Scottish blessing that Miss de Waal shared was the following:  “I lie down tonight with the three of my love and the three of my love will lie down with me.”

Some of the richness of the Celtic hymns and blessings can be found in the Carmina Gadelica.  I would invite you to explore it.

As I listened to Miss de Waal I found myself wondering how poetry and blessings have shaped my theology?  And also the manner by which some of those fundamental aspects of faith form and fit into my faith?  I would invite you to ponder the same questions. 

In the spirit of creation, poetry, and blessing, I would like to share two of my favorite with you.  The first from the familiar Lorica of St. Patrick, which is also called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”, and has been transposed into a hymn.  The second from one of my favorite authors, John O’Donohue, whose prose reads as poetry.

“I bind unto myself today

The strong name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the star lit heaven,

The glorious sun’s life giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea

Around the old eternal rocks.”  St. Patrick’s Breastplate

“On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders

And you stumble,

May the clay dance to balance you.

And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window

And the ghost of loss gets into you,

May a flock of colours, indigo, red, green and azure blue,

Come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays in the currach of thought

And a stain of ocean blackens beneath you,

May there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight

To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,

May the clarity of light be yours,

May the fluency of the ocean be yours,

May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you,

An invisible cloak to mind your life.”  John O’Donohue