Posts by Ralph Patrick

“Having disarmed the powers and principalities, He made a public spectacle of them, having triumphed over them by the cross.”  Colossians 2:15 “And the Lord set His cross in the midst of hell, which is the sign of victory; and there it shall remain forever.”  The Acts of Pilate[1] Outside of the Iona Abbey stands…

“To the human ear music echoes the deepest grandeur and the most divine intimacy of the soul.”  John O’Donahue “A man of rank must always keep his harp in tune.” [1] What do you associate with music? What do you associate with Celtic Music? What comes to mind first for me is Guinness Beer. The…

“I have come that they might have life to the fullest” Jesus the Christ “The Glory of God is a person fully alive.”  St. Irenaeus We’ve had pleasant weather the last few days in Colorado.  It’s been especially warm and sunny. Spring is aching to break forth with the chorus of new life.  When was…

“ . . . I know most surely that poverty and affliction become me better than delights and riches.” St. Patrick “ . . . I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me.” Jesus The Christ according to Matthew 25:36 Did you ever have one of those life…

“Riches I heed not nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance all of my days.”[1] “Store up treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:20 “Be always naked in imitation of Christ.” The Rule of Columcille The first followers of The Way were rich in Spirit, and so they could afford to be poor in worldly terms.  They…

“Therefore confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”  James 5:16 “A person without an anamcara is like a body without a head.” Brigid Lent, which officially began this past Wednesday for the Western Church and this upcoming Wednesday for the Eastern, is a time of repentance. …

“We love God because God first loved us.”  1 John 4:19 “The object of our desire wants us even more than we want the Desired One. It is God within us that allows us to fall in love with God.”[1]  Kenneth McIntosh Pilgrimages were important, even essential for the ancient Celts.  Columba took a permanent…

“A new heart I will give you, and a new Spirit I will put within you; I will remove from your body your heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”  Jesus the Christ “She gave her love to God as…

“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  1 John 4:7-8 “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me…

“(The Celtic Monks) practiced a ministry of presence, witnessing to the Lord not just by rushing around proselytizing and preaching, but simply by being there.”[1] Attend any mainline Christian church and it won’t take long before you hear the word “evangelism” and most likely are compelled to take part in it.  The etymology of the…