“(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 word means “Good News”, and pertains specifically to Christ.  However it has come have numerous meanings, many of which have to do with getting people into the pews or to attend church services.

Not so with the first Celtic Christians.  For them the Good News meant putting into action what Jesus was first proclaiming.  Their actions spoke louder than words.  And their lives denoted a reflection of that of Christ.  They embodied Christ for others, and became for them Christ in the flesh.  It said of Columba that he wasn’t so much a missionary as he was a monkly pastor, who devoted himself to “healing the sick, aiding the poor and receiving, blessing and counseling visitors who came to the island as pilgrims and penitents.”[2] The compassionate presence of Christ primarily took on the following forms.

Hospitality. This is an often-times overlooked gift, especially in western culture.  But it was an essential and integral part of the life of the Celts.  They took seriously the imitation of Christ in the figurative, and sometimes literal task of washing the feet of others.  Many monasteries had what was called a “hospitum”, which was a guest house located in the midst of the community where people could eat and sleep.  According to Bradley, the food was often-times better than what the monks ate themselves.  This hospitality extended beyond mere actions and into the actual attitudes of the monks.  They were very non-judgmental when it came to the lives of those looking for solace in the sacred.  Aidan’s success in Northumbria is attributed in large part to his gentle, compassionate approach.

Companioning.  One of the most valued elements of interpersonal relationships among the Celts was that of an Anam Cara, which means “soul friend”.[3]  This bond was formed within the monastic community, but it was also applied to those in need of special care or what today we would call “soul companioning”.  Historically this was widely practiced, the purpose being to come alongside of another and walk with them as they navigated the spiritual challenges on this life journey.  For quite some time this was a lost art, but in recent years has made a comeback, being commonly referred to as “Spiritual Direction.”  I personally experienced this, albeit unwittingly, during my time at Iona.  Linda, a pastor from Glasgow, provided on one afternoon some of the most significant “soul companioning” I’ve ever received.[4] As we continue to experience greater social isolation, it seems this need for soul friends is especially pertintent.

Healing. The art of healing was practiced by the monks in a variety of ways.  First, of course, was miracles.  Columba was renowned for this. His most famous act in this regard was rescuing a man from the Loch Ness monster.  At Iona there was a small well where the pilgrims would come specifically for the purpose of being healed.  Iona still provides this healing to many pilgrims, hosting a weekly healing service in the Abbey.  Healing was also received by means of the blessings given to others.  This might be considered a type of spiritual healing that sometimes took the form of poetry. John O’Donahue is one of those responsible for re-introducing the Celtic Blessings in our time.[5]  And finally there was the healing that utilized herbal remedies and medicines. Called medicamentia pentientia in Latin, the monks were quite adept and familiar with this type of plant-based medicine.

Reflecting on the importance of compassionate presence in the practice of the Celtic Christians lead us to ask some very provoking questions.

What part does compassionate presence play in the Christian Church today?

How important is hospitality and how is it practiced?

What opportunities do we have to exercise the compassionate presence of Christ with others?

---

[1] Following the Celtic Way, by Ian Bradley.  P. 119

[2] IBID, p. 119

[3] For an in depth dive into this topic I would invite you to read “Anam Cara”,  by John O’Donahue.

[4] If you’re interested in learning more about Spiritual Direction, please contact me.

[5] Many of O’Donahue’s  writings include both ancient and modern blessings.  His most familiar book in this regard is entitled, “To Bless the Space Between Us.”