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| The Eight Rules of Celtic Christianity
| Note: This is adopted from the website of the International Celtic Order of St. Patrick. |
Rule One: LIFE IS A JOURNEY AND WE ARE ALL PILGRIMS ON THE WAY. Detachment is the religious value stressed here. Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Mt 10:37-39) We cannot be slaves to anything but our number one priority in life. Salvation consists in this--to have God as the Number One Priority. Everything we do, or say, or think, or possess must in some way lead us to God. This is the purpose of "pilgrimage"--to seek the Lord.
Rule Two: THE SPIRITUAL AND THE PHYSICAL MAKE UP THE REAL WORLD; THEREFORE, OUR PRAYER LIFE IS OUR WHOLE LIFE.
- a. Spirituality is not something divorced from the real world. The spiritual world and the physical are part of the whole. Awareness of God means becoming aware of the divine by seeing God's presence in other people and in nature. In other words, believe that God acts in our lives.
- b. Hospitality means not just the hospitality of good manners, but the practice of charity in the real world. Why? Because Christ often walks in the stranger's clothes. "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels." [Hebrews 13:1] Treat everyone as you would treat Christ, for to sin against an individual is to sin against God.
- c. Making our work holy solves the problem of prayer time. How? By invoking the gracious God to bless the work, by calling to mind the name of Jesus frequently, by physically signing the cross on the work to be done, by finding the holy in the routine of life, and making holy the most menial of tasks. This is the way the spiritual realm becomes part of the everyday. Two things happen. The spiritual world becomes real to us, and the real world becomes holy.
Rule Three: REVERENCE CREATION AND HER CREATURES, FOR THEY ARE WINDOWS TO GOD.
- a. Sacrament with a small "s" refers to the value of seeing creation as a window to God, as having the ability to reveal qualities and characteristics of the God we worship. Nature is holy, not because it is God, but because it is able to link us to God. "The heavens proclaim the glory of God and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands." [Psalm 19: 2-3]
- b. Become aware of the voice of God in nature. Stewardship of Creation means we live in harmony with the land if we are truly to be one with God.
Rule Four: THE DOOR TO GOD CAN ONLY BE OPENED BY THE SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE.
- a. Asceticism means we discipline our bodily desires, not because the body is bad, but because without discipline we have no focus and there is too much distortion and confusion in our lives for us to clearly hear the voice of God. "Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one." [1 Cor 9:24 -27]
- b. Fasting must be part of this lifestyle. Other acts of personal discipline can be done as well such as when we are sick, praying for others. This idea of offering your pain up for others conforms us to Christ who sacrificed himself so that we might live. Moderation is the key. Strive for one major act of penance a week.
Rule Five: LOVE THE CROSS OF CHRIST BY WHICH WE ARE REDEEMED.
- a. Salvation and Judgment are the religious values stressed here. Remember what St. Francis said, "We adore you 0 Christ and we praise you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world." We must meditate on the meaning of the cross. It is the pivotal point of our existence. On one side, we see ourselves redeemed from sin for the resurrection transformed this symbol of shame into a symbol of victory. On the other side, it is the symbol of judgment, reminding us that there is a heaven, there is a hell, and we will be judged by how faithful we have walked with Christ.
- b. A cross or crucifix in your home, a signing of the cross on the foreheads of your kids at night, using the cross as a focus for your meditation are all ways to increase the significance of Christ in our lives.
Rule Six: HAVE A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF AND A REVERENCE FOR THE EMBRACING LOVE OF THE POWERS OF HEAVEN.
- Cultivate a devotion and learn more about favorite angels and saints. Far from watering down your devotion to Christ, it will deepen your relationship with the Lord, for the holy ones have lived lives focused on Christ and will help us do the same.
Rule Seven: LOVE THE EUCHARIST; PRAY THE SCRIPTURES; CELEBRATE THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE FREQUENTLY; SEEK OUT A SOUL FRIEND.
- a. Jesus says, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." [John 6:35] Word and Eucharist are essential to the practice of this type of Christianity. The weekly celebration is mandatory. Linked with this, of course, is the praying of the Scriptures--particularly the psalms. Of all the books in the Bible, the Celts loved the Psalms best. Rediscover them, and pray them often.
- b. The need for the Sacrament of Penance is paramount. We are sinners in need of God's mercy. Repentance is a spiritual value necessary for cleansing the person of all that keeps one from Christ. Frequent confession is stressed. How often? Monthly if possible, 4 times a year at the least.
- c. The institution of anamarchara or "soul friend" is important. A soul friend is a spiritual guide, or someone you can pour out your heart to. It helps if the soul friend is also your confessor, but it is not necessary.
Rule Eight: USE THE LORICA
- a. Faith is the main value at work here-a strong belief that prayer is power and reflects absolute trust in God.
Also see:
Historic language within this text (e.g., 'His', 'Father', etc.) was used here without edit for historic reference purposes only, notwithstanding the author's preference for inclusive and non-oppressive language. Article written 2005 by Sarah A. Morrigan, A.C., Community of St. Anne, and used here by her gracious permission. | |
