Customer Reviews

Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, a Vision of Hope

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The cover blurb of this short book by an American Benedictine monk promises Celtic Spirituality "introduces a mysterious and extraordinary spiritual world (that) developed among the Celtic peoples sixteen centuries ago." Fr. Timothy's book tells something of pre-Christian and early-Christian Celtic social structure, customs and worldview and provides a few examples of Celtic prayers. But this book is primarily the HISTORY (i.e., names, dates, administrative structure) of Christian institutions in Celtic lands and not an exploration of Celtic Christian beliefs and practice or, more specifically, how those beliefs and practices shaped the Celtic people before they came under Norman and English domination.

Fr. Timothy emphasizes that Ireland was the only early-Christian culture in Western Europe never controlled by the Roman Empire. The Celtic Church, while strictly Trinitarian in belief, celebrated God's gifts of nature and humanity in a relatively non-legalistic manner. Then he recounts the history of the Roman church eventually dominating the native Irish, until the 1840s Potato Famine horror destroyed both the economy and any remaining traditional Celtic social structure and laid mid-Nineteenth Century legalistic, conservative, hierarchical Roman Catholicism over impoverished, dysfunctional Irish families. Fr. Timothy asserts the result, today's image of "Irish Catholic", is a foreign, inauthentic Irish Christianity far removed from its Celtic roots.

All of that may be true and interesting, but I finished the book still not knowing exactly what Celtic Christianity is and how, other than making pilgrimages to contemporary retreat centers scattered through Ireland and Britain, one might pursue modern day Celtic spirituality.

Although Ireland's lack of Roman domination is mentioned several times and Fr. Timothy mentions Eastern Orthodox Christianity in passing a couple of times, his Roman Catholic-centered world view never lets him, if you'll allow me a newly popular but already overused phrase, connect the dots. Since St. Patrick and his peers brought Christianity to the Celts at a time, around 400 AD, when all Christians were still "Orthodox" and other books demonstrate direct connections between the Celtic Church and the Eastern Christian monasteries of the Desert Fathers, it seems logical to conclude that Celtic Christianity was the local version of what still lives on as Eastern Orthodoxy.

There is a fairly long bibliography (virtually all for books published in the 1990s) and a list of organizations sponsoring Celtic retreats, revival, etc. (although not a single Internet address is provided). A few black and white photo reproductions are unremarkable.

I enjoyed reading Celtic Spirituality, and recommend it as a short history of Christian Church administration in Celtic cultures but feel one needs to look elsewhere to learn more about Celtic (Orthodox) Christianity itself.

Timothy Joyce does readers an excellent service by introducing them to Christianity from the Celtic tradition, all the more so if they too, like himself, come from an inherited Irish Catholicism that they have been trying to come to grips with in a rapidly changing world. He gives an overview of the Celtic culture and the spirituality of the Celtic peoples and their links with creation and the 'thin space' that was always a feature of Celtic peoples, made concrete through the ritual and ceremony of Druidic lore. He notes the early history of Christian mission through figures like Patrick, Bridgit, Columba and others and the development of Christianity that drew upon the wisdom and poetry of Celtic tradition in song and bardic verse. He then records the sad history of how the Roman or Euro-centric church with its nervous tendency to make everything uniform, influenced the church of Celtic Christians so that those of us who are of Irish Catholic descent have known little of the glory and freedom of the Celtic freshness for creation, for life, for love and commitment to the Gospel with the energy and whole-heartedness of those Celtic Christians. Joyce has a very readable style, in which he is unafraid to voice his own opinions which show a concern for certain fear-filled developments within the church today. 'Celtic Christianity' is not a great theological work, but I found it an excellent means to help me understand and integrate a part of my own heritage (New Zealand born Irish Catholic) that was full of mystery in tales of Fin McCool and leprechauns and, of course, St Patrick, and the fear of a law-bound, fearsome Catholic faith, one in which I am learning to understand the possibilities for hope and new life in the midst of a tendency for uniformity and centralising dominance afraid of the prophetic and poetic.

The Rev. Joyce offers us a well-reasearched, and scholarly analysis of the elements and factors which define Celtic Christianity. The thorough history of Christian worship as it developed primarily in Ireland allows the reader to virtually travel through time to gain a full understanding of the psyche of the Irish people, and how this has influenced (and has been influenced by) the parallel rise of European Christianity.

The author's writing style makes the work a bit more difficult than it might otherwise need to be, however. Much of the factual work is related to the reader in a somewhat cold style, thus requiring the reader to persevere. The basic thesis of the work could be stated more clearly in the introductory chapter, rather than summarized in the end.

Overall, a sound, non-judgemental treatment of a subject which each Christian should understand in order to fully appreciate the rich history and diversity of the Church.

A gentle & interesting book for those exploring Celtic &/or Irish roots, & history. It provides valuable insights into understanding and recognising the Celtic traits and spirituality within us. A worthwhile read for Catholics, who, like myself, sometimes wonder! Definitely worth a second read (or more)!

_Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, A Vision of Hope_ by Benedictine monk and Roman Catholic priest Timothy J. Joyce, published by Orbis Books, takes a profound look at one of the unique Christian traditions originating among the Celtic peoples. The author is of Irish ancestry and notes the unique contributions of this subtle race to spirituality and tradition. Although the book is marred by a leftist bias which overemphasizes the changes in the church which took place at the Second Vatican Council, it nevertheless provides an important survey of the spirituality arising from the Celtic peoples.

The author begins by discussing the ancient Celts, a pagan people who would later easily come to embrace Christianity. The Celts included peoples spread out all over Europe, including not only the British Isles (Scotland, Wales, and Ireland) but also the Continental mainland, ranging from France, Britanny, all the way to Switzerland and Eastern Europe. Indeed, the tribe of Gauls were of Celtic origin, and the adventures of this ancient people are well known and recorded in the writings of various Romans. The origins of the Celts remain a mystery and many have suggested that they may have originated in the East and migrated Westwards. The early Celts had a unique philosophical understanding emphasizing the sacredness of place, revealed in their ruins and sacred sites. In addition, the Celts were a warlike people, although they placed emphasis on spirituality and humility unlike other barbarian tribes. When Christianity came to the Celts, it was an easy conversion. The author relates tales of the saints Patrick, Bridgit, Brendan, Columcille, and Columban. Indeed, these early saints were capable of incorporating Christianity to such an extent that Christ could be referred to as the "Great Druid". Celtic Christianity emphasized nature and monasticism. Indeed, many of the Celtic saints were responsible for bringing monasticism to the British Isles. The relationship between the Celtic Church and Rome is more complicated. While the Celts always adhered strongly to such orthodox Christian beliefs as the existence of Purgatory and the truth of the Trinity, their church structure was somewhat different from the Roman Church. Nevertheless, the Celts sought to maintain unity with the pope at Rome, although they often remained somewhat critical of his personal faults. Following this discussion of the early Celtic Church and Celtic monasticism, the author turns his attention to the crises the Celtic Church underwent. The author discusses not only the changes that took place in the church during the Middle Ages, but the subsequent events of the Protestant Reformation and Cromwell's persecution which completed devastated the Irish. Finally, the author turns his attention to Ireland's "Darkest Hour". Here, he emphasizes the poverty of this nation and the results of famine. Many of the Irish became immigrants to the United States, Canada, or Australia, fleeing their land of woe. However, they preserved their Catholic spirituality as they went. This spirituality emphasized obedience to Rome, the Rosary, the adoration of Mary and the saints, prayer for the "poor souls" in Purgatory, and the Irish wake and funeral. However, with the rise of the modern age, new possibilities for spiritual growth remain for the Celtic peoples and in particular for the Irish. The author believes that Celtic spirituality offers a vision of hope for the Roman Catholic church in the contemporary period. It is unfortunate however that he places so much of an emphasis on the changes in the church that took place at the Second Vatican Council as opposed to traditional Catholic spirituality.

This book provides a thorough introduction to the spirituality of the Celtic peoples and to their profoundly Christian vision for the future. While the book is marred by a leftist denial of the traditional Catholic faith, it nevertheless makes some good points regarding the early Celts and the profound healing power of their spirituality for the modern age.

Excellent review of Celtic christianity from the very beginning. Thoroughly entertaining and informative. Interesting;a very good read.

If you are looking for a readable, uncomplicated look at the history of Celtic Christianity, this would be a good start. Historical documentation in this area is scant, but the author uses what is available well, and sends you off thinking.

Father Joyce has written a thoughtful and useful book. It is pure joy