Customer Reviews

Celtic Treasure: Unearthing the Riches of Celtic Spirituality

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Celtic Treasure is a simple gift book, beautifully illustrated with scenes from Landisfarne and Iona and other Celtic religious strongholds of the past. In eight short chapters, Liz introduces us to some of the early religious leaders and the beliefs they emphasized, such as prayer and solitude, the God of creation, creativity that speaks of man being created in the image of God, community and hospitality, and life. Liz has done a lot of research into the lives and writings of these men and women and shares with us their thoughts that have been preserved through the centuries since they lived. She also shares many of her poems and thoughts that have come about from her research. My favorite poem in the book was taken from St. Patrick's breastplate. Celtic Treasure gives the reader much to absorb and meditate on in light of scriptural truth.

Author Liz Babbs' new book, Celtic Treasure, is a strikingly beautiful introduction to the history and riches of ancient Celtic Christianity. Printed on marvelous coated stock, it is a delightful experience to even thumb through this little gift book. Despite it's smaller size and low price, Celtic Treasure is not only packed with a brief historical overview of Celtic Christian spirituality and how unique it is in contrast to most the modern Western world, but it is also packed with a devotional and contemplative richness that is deep and satisfying.

It seems obvious that this is not material the author simply researched and wrote about, rather it flows from who she is personally. Babbs has long immersed herself in Celtic Christianity, and drawn on her talents as writer, poet, and spiritual director to compose this book.

Whether it is you who is interested in knowing more about the uniqueness and richness of Celtic Christian spirituality, or know people who might benefit from a beautiful and delightful introduction of the same, this little book wins hands down.

"In the busyness and confusion of our twenty-first century world, Celtic Christianity, with its holistic approach to finding God in all of life and its inclusive attitude to both men and women, offers a spirituality for our time." So says Liz Babbs in her new book, Celtic Treasure, Unearthing the Riches of Celtic Spirituality.

This little gift book packs a lot of information into eight chapters without losing the sense of simplicity that is a hallmark of Celtic Christianity. In 79 beautifully illustrated pages Liz covers:

Unearthing Celtic Treasures--Liz shares her story of pilgramage to some of the ancient sites where Christianity was birthed in England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Celtic Saints--This chapter offers an overview of various Celtic saints who helped change the course of history in Europe.

Prayer and Solitude--Liz explains the Celtic way of incorporating prayer into all aspects of life and includes some of her own prayers as examples along with some of the ancient Celtic prayers.

God and Creation--Celtic Christians were not pagans, but because their way of life was so tied to the earth and the elements, they emphasized worship of the God of Creation, requested his power for their protection, and honored his eternal Word reflected in nature.

Celebrating Creativity--Liz highlights the types of stories, art, poetry, music, dance, and songs of the era of Celtic spirituality and how this love of creativity has influenced our era.

Valuing Community--This is one of my favorite chapters because the Celtic Christians understood that relationships were the heart of the Gospel and carried over into eternity future. Community balanced with solitude brought maturity for these Christians.

Generous Hospitality--Liz shares how in the Celtic tradition, strangers are to be received as Christ.

Celebrating Life--The concluding chapter of Celtic Treasure reminds us that life is a celebration of the God who brings us joy.

Quotes, prayers, and pictures enliven Celtic Treasure and left me longing for my own pilgrimage to Britain and Ireland. For now, I will be content to be a Pilgrim of the Heart by learning to practice what this little book teaches.

Liz Babbs is an award winning author and speaker living in Nottingham, England. "Celtic Treasure," by Liz Babbs, combines inspiration, information and beauty for treasure hunters digging for spiritual wealth.

Susan Gaddis

Celtic Treasure by Liz Babbs is truly a treasure. Beautiful photos, inspiring poetry, and quotes from Celtic thinkers make this a book I'd love to give to friends who want to deepen their understanding of Celtic Christianity. What made the book particularly meaningful to me was the references to Saint Aidan, since our son bears that name. I also appreciate the author's insertion of her own thoughts and poetry throughout the book. If you're looking for a meaningful, beautiful gift, pick up Celtic Treasure.

Reason for Reading: I am Catholic and am interested in the early Church, especially the Saints.

Well, honestly, I didn't know what to expect from this book. What was Celtic Spirituality? Was it some new age thing or Christian? Upon opening the little book I was immediately met with Scripture and St. Patrick's Breastplate along with stunning photography of Christian ruins from the 1st millenium in Ireland and Scotland. This is a lovely, hand-sized gift book printed on quality paper. A delight to read and look at. The book is about the history of the Celtic Christians in the first millennium and though it is never mentioned this is, in other words, the early history of the Catholic Church in Ireland and Scotland. Everything that is mentioned, the history, the saints, the prayers, the places, the way of life are all from the beginnings of the Church in this part of the world, when the Celts were converted to Christianity. The book is full of scripture and Saint's prayer's (my favourite part), and even quotes from C.S. Lewis and Chesterton. The author herself has written her own prayers and poems which are very nice and full of Christian love. A nice book.

When I was finished I googled one of the modern day communities mentioned in the book that practiced Celtic Spirituality, just to know what it was. It's not something I'm interested in but I'm happy we share the same history. My church is decorated with Celtic crosses on it's outside architecture as our patron saint is Saint Patrick and we have his Breastplate inside the church.

(Condensed from [...])

I received a review copy of Liz Babbs' gift-size edition "Celtic Treasure," and want to brag on it.

I won't go into much of Celtic spirituality actually is, as that is what this new book (accurately subtitled,

"Unearthing the Riches of Celtic Spirituality")

and Babb's previous integrative book and music( "Celtic Heart") are all about.

But if this is all new to you, you may want to start with Keltic Ken's audio interview with her at this link:

[...]

Suffice to say Celtic Christianity is a historic movement much more multiplex than just the powerful point person you may associate with it (St. Patrick), with profound help for us walking in the Kingdom today. Bottom line takeaway, perhaps, is: heaven comes to earth now, it's not just us going to heaven later. There are ways to form and reform community/communitas in ways that leave room for sacred space (without the idolatry of place). And there are means to discipleship that are (as we say at our church) mystical and missional; as well as monastic and marketplaced. Celtic worldview eschews "either-or" thinking in favor of a biblical "both-and" approach.

Since that just confused you, anyway (:....

I much prefer to introduce you to things Celtic, and Babbs' delightful book, in a less propositional way...which is itself indeed a very intrinsically and epistemologically Celtic way of learning.

Risking being propositional, then, here are several (random) bragging points around the book(:

First of all: it, its layout and photographs, are gorgeous.

This is a coffee table book (as we say on our side of the pond) that is not to only ornamentally decorate the table, and decidedly not one to set a coffee cup on. Like all good books I own, I took notes. But unlike any other book I own, I felt I had to make the notes on a separate sheet of paper, and not in the book itself..........my scribbles would look like sacrilegious graffiti on the beauty of the book.

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Around 1989, I took an amazing class from George Hunter III, who had at that time done some research that later became the wonderful book, "The Celtic Way of Evangelism." Several years later, Hunter presented that material for our West Coast Men's Retreat: great theory made practical. I could get quite excited about the implications of Celtic spirituality/theology/music for evangelism...in fact, too excited, if not careful. (Far too utilitarian, modern-evangelical, and compartmentalized an approach).

What Hunter's material, and what Celtic Christian music (Moya Brennan, Iona, et al... and other artists who may not be officially "Christian" or consistently "Celtic": Sinnead O'Connor, U2 as in "Drowning Man") does for me...

....and what Babb's book dramatically and powerfully does for me..

is my second bragging point:

..it challenges me into the implications of Celtic spirituality for all of life.

Celtic spirituality is holistic, sytemic, nonlinear, centered-set, inductive/abductive and intuitive.

How timely that those terms are all buzzwords for postmodern sensitivity; but they are first and foremost signposts of Celtic spirituality, which was (and is) ahead of it's time and therefore on time.

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Thirdly:

Babbs' prose and poems, especially due to the way they are typset, are the perfect thread to weave together the themes of the book. They are not mere markers or punctuation; they are to the point, and are the point. They themselves express and embed a Celtic sense in a way that historical narrative inherently cannot.

One example:

For love is of God.

It's the life force shaping all creation.

The very essence we breathe.

For love removes boundaries

eradicates prejudice

crosses divides

builds community

and moulds

history.

Liz Babbs

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Chapter Five on "Celebrating Creativity" was a standout for me, and my fourth brag.

I have so often lamented that Christians, who are made and remade in the creative image of a creative Creator are so often the least creative people on earth! Part of Liz Babbs' calling is as a "creative prayer consultant." May that tribe increase!

This chapter is a model and microcosm of the others: it is packed with history, but in a concise and engaging way; and it is illustrated with art and photos that bring it to life.

Witness, page 52:

"Fathers were said to pass the gift of storytelling to their sons and poetry to their daughters, and storytellers and poets were held in high esteem." Babbs then brilliantly dovetails this insight with an example of a Celtic poem attributed to St. David, which includes the line: "No man loves poetry without loving the light." Great example of simple and profound, and simply profound Celtic wisdom whih must be resurrected to speak into today's church.

Three not-necessarily Celtic commentators come to mind:

"Poetry is just the evidence of life, " Leonard Cohen offers," If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash."

In a vintage dictum, Chesterton nailed it: "Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers; but creative artists very seldom."

Celtic fan Martin Smith of Delirious once replied to Keltic Ken and I when we asked his wisdom about church, "I'm a poet, not a church leader."

When we grab hold of Celtic spirituality, and realize that now more than ever, poets ARE..by definition...church leaders. All I can say, we Western pastor types, and heresy hunters who lump anything Celtiis as "New Age," pagan or satanic have often been adventures in missing the point.

Even though Babbs' book is not marketed as a "church leadership" book, it may well rank among the top five books that should be included in seminary curriculam, but likely aren't...until seminary education becomes more...well, Celtic.

But at heart, this is a valuable book for any follower of/leader towards Christ..

notably those noticing a flatness and emptiness to much of what passes today for meaningful Christianity.

I recommend it to all..as long as you remember, it is not just for the coffee table.

Celtic Treasure is a real treasure. The book provides a look at the beautiful simplicity of spirituality unearthed from the riches of Celtic faith. This gift book is filled with magnificent photographs, poetry, quotations, Bible verses and a concise explaination of Celtic spirituality. The Introduction and eight chapters provide quality information that allows readers to experience the beauty of the people and the land on which they lived. Enjoy this lovely book. It will draw you to visit the unique and lovely settings.

I was very impressed with this mini coffeetable book. I call it a mini coffeetable book because it has the content and designs arranged like a coffeetable book but is hand sized. The pictures are calming, soothing, and very much like I imagine that land, the poetry and ancient prayers interesting, and the description of the spiritual places intriguing. It made me want to learn more about the Christian history of the Celts and visit their spiritual places.

Celtic Treasure by Liz Babbs is a study of the history of Christianity in Ireland along with stunning photographs of the region. Babbs discusses the faith of the Celts including their focus on finding God in nature, their belief in monasticism and their hospitality. Each short chapter uses Scripture, quotes from Irish saints, along with poetry by the author to emphasize the point, bringing it home to readers. This charming book is perfect for readers interested in the faith of this beautiful country.

4 stars for this little treasure. This is a sweet, little gift book, a nice stocking stuffer or friendship gift for Christians in the Christmas season, or for anyone interested in Celts. It is short at 80 pages and the format is one that is frequently found in card and gift shops: about 6" x 6.1" and hardback. It is filled with lovely photography as well as poems, prayers, Bible quotations, and information on Celt history and sprituality. For its little size, it packs a good deal more information that most gift books like it, and is a nice introduction to Celtic spirituality.

I received this book in a first reads giveaway, and the giveaway informtaion mentioned an accompanying CD. I did not receive the CD so cannot judge it.