AN INTRODUCTORY READING LIST - CELTIC CHRISTIANITY & SPIRITUALITY What Is The Celtic Church?
Some historians dispute the idea that we can even talk about a Celtic Church. It was not an organization separate from the larger Christian community of its day (later to be known as the Roman Catholic Church), more a movement within the larger church. The term is used to describe the earliest native form of Christianity in the islands of Britain and Ireland, extending to the Celtic region of Brittany in France.
It dates from the time of the exodus of the Roman legions from Britain in the early 5th century up to the gradual amalgamation of the Celtic stream with the larger Roman Catholic Church after the Synod of Whitby (664). It continued to exist in Scotland and Ireland, but in a weakened form, and was finally disbanded, in Scotland at least, by Queen Margaret around 1080. Its roots can be traced from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, who pioneered monastic communities in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, through Martin of Tours, who about 360 established this model of monastic community (adding study and mission) in Gaul. His community influenced early Celtic Christian leaders like Ninian [d. 432] who established a community at Whithorn in what is now southwest Scotland, and Illtyd who came to Wales from Brittany (part of the language family of the Welsh) around the late 400's. From his monastery came David of Wales and Samson of Dol. Other early leaders of this movement were Patrick of Ireland, Columba of Iona and Aidan, Cuthbert, Cedd and Chad of Lindisfarne (Holy Island).
In the late 20th century there began in the British Isles and Ireland another of what historians term "Celtic revivals" that have influenced the larger Christian community from time to time.
Celtic Christianity: a resource for 21st Century Christians
The best way to enter the world of Celtic Christianity is through prayer and pilgrimage. To help prepare for your pilgrimage, we list some of our favorite books of Celtic prayer and some that tell the story of the Celtic church.
A good general introduction first read is Thomas Cahill's book, How the Irish Saved Civilization. The most recent and most comprehensive study of our contemporary Celtic Christian 'revival' is Ian Bradley's, Celtic Christianity (Edinburgh University Press, 1999). For pilgrimage preparation we recommend: all of Esther De Waal's books listed below; Cintra Pemberton's, Soulfaring: Celtic Pilgrimage Then and Now (Morehouse Publishing, 1999); John J. O'Riordain's, A Pilgrim in Celtic Scotland (The Columba Press, 1997); Margaret Silf's beautiful new book, Sacred Spaces: Stations On a Celtic Way (Paraclete Press, 2001); and Bruce Reed Pullen's, Discovering Celtic Christianity: Its Roots, Relationships and Relevance (Twenty-Third Publications, 1999). Jean enjoyed a newly discovered book: Praying With Celtic Holy Women (Liguori Publications, 2003) by Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver
During study in Wales, we discovered the following resources: Patrick Thomas', A Candle in the Darkness: Celtic Spirituality from Wales (Gomer Press, 1997); Thomas O'Loughlin's, Saint Patrick: The Man and His Works (Triangle, SPCK, 1999) and Journeys On the Edges:The Celtic Tradition (Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd., 2000); and Ian Bradley's, Colonies of Heaven: Celtic Models for Today's Church (Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd., 2000).
Ellis Peters is one of our favorite mystery witers, especially her Brother Cadfael series set in 12th century England. One of the Cadfael books, A Morbid Taste for Bones, tells an interesting story about the shrine of St. Winifred in north Wales, an area we will visit. We are also enjoying the Sister Fidelma mysteries by Peter Tremayne, the fiction-writing pseudonym of Peter Berresford Ellis, a leading Celtic scholar. Not only does he tell a good story, he teaches about the Christian Church in seventh century Ireland. His first book in the series, Absolution by Murder, takes place during the 664 synod at Whitby, the final Celtic site on our pilgrimage. Another favorite author is Sharon Kay Penman. She is also an outstanding historian and sets one of her books (Dragon's Lair) in the area of north Wales we shall be touring.
Books of Prayers and Devotions: *good first reads
*Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations Collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the Last Century: Alexander Carmichael, Lindisfarne Press, 1994.
*The Celtic Vision, (excerpts from Carmina Gadelica): Esther De Waal,Darton, Longman & Todd.
*New Moon of the Seasons, (excerpts from Carmina Gadelica): Michael Jones, Floris Classics.
*The Sun Dances, (excerpts from Carmina Gadelica): Adam Bittlestay, Floris Classics.
*God Under My Roof; Celtic Songs and Blessings: Esther De Waal, Paraclete Press, Orleans, MA.
God in our Midst: Prayers and Devotions from the Celtic Tradition: Martin Reith,Triangle/SPCK, 1989.
*Every Earthly Blessing; Celebrating a Spirituality of Creation: Esther De Waal, Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, MI.
*The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination: Esther De Waal, Doubleday, 1997.
*Celtic Daily Prayer (1994) & Celtic Night Prayer (1996), The Northumbrian Community; Marshall Pickering, An Imprint of Harper Collins.
*Cry of the Eagle, The Cry of the Deer, The Edge of Glory, Flame In My Heart, Tides and Seasons : Books by David Adam (Vicar of Lindisfarne): Morehouse-Barlow, 78 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 and in UK by SPCK Triangle Books.
*Landscapes of Light: An Illustrated Anthology of Prayers, David Adam, Paraclete Press, 2002.
*Each Day and Each Night, J. Philip Newell (former Warden of Iona), Wild Goose Publications/The Iona Community, (1994); An Earthful of Glory (1996); Listening for the Heartbeat of God (1997), SPCK; Celtic Prayers from Iona
*A Little Book of Celtic Prayer: A Daily Companion and Guide: Anthony Duncan, Marshall Pickering, 1996.
*Daily Readings from Prayers and Praises in the Celtic Tradition: A. M. Allchin and Esther De Waal, ed., Templegate Publishers, 1987.
Celtic Fire (An Anthology of Celtic Christian Literature), Robert Van de Weyer, ed., Darton, Longman & Todd.
The Religious Songs of Connacht, Douglas Hyde, Irish University Press, Shannon Island, 1972.
The Deer's Cry: A Treasury of Irish Religious Verse, Patrick Murray, editor, Four Courts Press, 1986.
R. S. Thomas: Collected Poems, 1945-1990, Phoenix Giant, 1995. Also Welsh Airs (Seren Books, 1987), Mass for Hard Times (Bloodaxe Books Ltd., 1992), Counterpoint (Bloodaxe, 1990), and R. S. Thomas, W. Moelwyn Merchant (University of Wales Press, 1989).
About Celtic Christian Culture
*How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill, Anchor Books, Doubleday, 1995.
Celtic Christianity, Ecology and Holiness: An Anthology, Christopher Bamford and William Parker Marsh, Inner Traditions International, Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767.
*Chasing the Wild Goose: The Iona Community, Ron Ferguson, Collins, Fount Paperbacks (Iona Community Wild Goose Publications, 1988).
The Pattern of Our Days: Worship In the Celtic Tradition from the Iona Community, Kathy Galloway, Editor (Wild Goose Publications).
Celtic Christian Communities: Live the Tradition, Ian Bradley
Whithorn, Iona and Lindisfarne: A Celtic Saga, Andrew R. M. Patterson, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, 1991.
*Glendalough:A Celtic Pilgrimage, Michael Rodgers & Marcus Losack, Morehouse Publishing, 1996.
A Biography and some Novels
Fire of the North: The Illustrated Life of St. Cuthbert, David Adam, SPCK, 1993.
Godric (1980) and Brendan (1987), Frederick Buechner, Harper & Row.
I Am of Irelaunde: A Novel of Patrick and Osian, Juilene Osborne-McKnight, A Forge Book, 2000.
Books to Treasure
*Exploring the Book of Kells, George Otto Simms, The O'Brien Press.
*The Book of Celtic Saints, Courtnay Davis & Elaine Gill, Blandford, 1995.
*Celtic Pilgrimages: Sites, Seasons and Saints, Elaine Gill & David Everett, Blandford, 1997.
A Magazine Worth Reading
A 1998 issue of Christian History magazine titled "How the Irish Were Saved" provides an overview of the "culture and faith of Celtic Christians" through well written articles, photos, art work, timelines, etc. (Issue 60, Vol. XVII, No. 4) Individual copies of this issue may be ordered by phone (1-800-806-7798) for $5 (1-9 copies) plus shipping (10%).
Celtic Pilgrimage Itinerary