Celtic Christianity and Spirituality

Celtic christianity and spirituality are irrevocably bound to the early Celtic Christian saints of Ireland and Scotland.

I looked up the word "peregrine" in my handy Webster's Collegiate, since the Irish evangelist monks referred to themselves as "Peregrinari Pro Christ" (pilgrims for Christ). The meaning was short and sweet: "having a tendency to wander."

My mind then wandered through various notions about journeying and the word peregrine (I always think of soaring falcons), but soon landed on a much more prosaic Peregrine, better known as "Pippin" Took, companion of Frodo Baggins on his journey to destroy the Ring.

Now Frodo did not want to leave his home; the Shire was green, the ale was strong, the food was plenteous, and to sit by the fire, reading and studying, made for a very pleasant life. But he had to go. Just as St. Patrick was called to return to the place of his slavery, St. Ninian called to evangelize the Scots of Galloway, and St. Brendan called to cast off in his small boat and end up in Iceland bringing the light of Christ to the Norse. St. Columba, too, was forced to move by evil circumstance, leaving the monasteries he had established in northern Ireland for a rocky, yew-covered isle we call Iona.

The Celtic monks called their peregrinations the "White Martyrdom". White, because their blood was not shed (though that could and did happen), and martyrdom, because they had to leave their beloved home. Their belief was that the spiritual journey of our lives demands both outward and inward wandering, often not knowing where God will lead. The Celts had wandered all across Europe before landing on its western fringes. They knew what it meant to pick up your feet and go. It is said that St. Aidan progressed around his diocese on foot, never on horseback except in case of emergency. When you travel afoot, you see the land, the sky, the water, and the people.

Knowing the dangers that awaited, Frodo had planned to travel alone. But that is not the Celtic way, for we are not meant to travel alone but in companionship and in community. Everyone requires a special friend, what the Irish and Scots called a "soul friend" or anam cara, to help us in our spiritual journey. In ancient times, it was not necessary or even usual for the anam cara to be a priest or someone "more spiritual" than oneself. Rather, this was a relationship in which spiritual insights, growth, and difficulties were shared with honesty and good advice both taken and given. Sometimes, a soul friend is required to take harsh action to keep us on the true path. We know what Sam Gamgee endured for Frodo and we know the pain it caused him. We also know what he ultimately gained. St. Brigid reputedly said, "a person without a soul friend is like a body without a head."

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