So tomorrow I leave on a trip that was introduced to me by the book group at St. Luke's of the Mountains Episcopal Church in La Crescenta. This has been my spiritual home since 2011, when on Mothers' Day, Bishop Diane came to speak. My friend Donna knew I was floating and floundering for several years, unsatisfied with my "childhood church." But something happened to me on this day...it was a day full of grace as I attended this service, then met with Michael Downey near LMU, called my ex-husband's wife and wished her a happy Mother's Day and to thank her for being a loving step-Mom to Lissa and Mindy. In addition, it was a day of confusion and sadness as I met with my brother-in-law to try and understand why he was leaving my sister.
Since that day and whenever I am in town, I attend Sunday service at St.. Luke's. Often we have a book discussion at 8:45 and this last year, Father Hartshorn Murphy suggested that we read this book by J. Philip Newell "Listening to the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality." He had just returned from a Celtic pilgrimage and was eager to share his experiences with us. Fast forward to February of 2019, I was searching for the trip he went on...and although there was a waiting list, I contacted the organizers to add my name to the list. I mentioned Hartshorn and there was an immediate welcome! As things turned out, one pilgrim had some serious health issues and a spot was open. And now, tomorrow, I leave. There is an expression that "God works in mysterious ways" and so true it was.
In preparation for my trip, I picked up my book and finished the few chapters I had missed and scanned through the earlier chapters. It reminded me of the basic differences between the early Celtic religions and that of the traditional Roman church. Here are some of my notes from my coffee stained, dog-eared paperback.
- these prayers reflect elements of creation as attributed to St. Columba and St. Patrick "continually portray the elements of the earth as evidence of God's grace and goodness and see God in the ordinary and everyday instead of exclusively in the Church." pg. 5
- Pelagius "the image of God can been seen in every newborn..." (England's first prominent theologian, Celtic Christian, 4th century) for an excerpt from his writings see https://rvjart.com/tag/pelagius/ "look at the animals roaming the forest: God's spirit dwells within them" Taught women to read scripture. Taught "every child is conceived and born in the image of God."
- In Celtic mission priests permitted to marry, distinction between religious between priests and lay people were not hard and fast, women help positions of leadership in the church.
- Monks of Iona most probably worked on the Book of Kells in year 800; 8th and 9th century saw Celtic crosses.
- The Roman church tried to obliterate the Gaelic language, its customs, prayers and stories.
- Macleod great influence on the church in Scotland. "God is the life of life...Spiritual awareness then, was about being aware of God in the midst of the change and movement and flow of life, in the rising of the morning sun, in the work and relationships of daily life, in the great struggles of society and nation, in alertness to the interior life of the soul, in times of rest and sleep, and even dreaming." pg. 76 In 1938, he made the decision to rebuild the ancient abbey on Iona, where in the 6th century St. Columba had based his Celtic mission. pg. 82
- MacLeod's prayer: from The Glory in the Grey https://standrewscobourg.ca/2016/08/prayer-the-glory-in-the-grey/
