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Celtic Christianity Annotated Bibliography
Adam, David --Prayers for the Church Year
This series of three books follows the three-year Anglican cycle of Scripture readings, and features prayers in the Celtic tradition for each Sunday of the year, allowing for one to substitute the opening sentences, collect, prayers of the people, closing prayers and blessings with these to give a more ‘Celtic feel’ to the Sunday home liturgy. --Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer In this volume, David Adam offers a weeks worth of Morning, Noon, Evening and Night prayers, with a different theme on each day (Sunday: Resurrection; Monday: Creation; Tuesday: Incarnation; etc.) For someone just starting out in developing a daily cycle of prayer or if one just needs a change from what is beginning to become stale, this is a wonderful starting place. --Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually. This can be used in conjunction with any daily prayer office, as the prayers are given for a number of situations. Many of these are taken from the Carmina Gadelica, or original prayers in the same style.
(The above are all published by Morehouse Publishing, Harrisburg, Pa.) Early, Mary C. and Maddox, Sylvia --Praying with the Celtic Saints: Companions for the Journey (St Mary’s Press, Winona, MN. 2000) This book is designed for either individual or group meditation, and includes 15 meditations, each with a different thematic emphasis and pointing towards a Celtic Christian Saint who exemplifies that theme (St. Patrick: the encompassing of Christ; St. Brigit: Soul Friendship; St. Brenden the Navigator: Holy Journeying). Similar in style to the way Michael Mitton has arranged his book “Restoring the Woven Cord”. Includes a forward section on how to set up a time of Christian meditation, setting aside a prayer space, different forms of meditative reading styles, etc. This book is NOT designed to be read through at one sitting, but is designed as a series of meditations, to be used over a period of time, using the time between uses to reflect on the lessons of the previous period. Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, Ireland -- Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer book (Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN. 2001) Being located in County Limerick, this book is a curious melding of Benedictine prayers with an Irish flavor. One can almost hear the brogue as one prays the daily offices. In fact, many of the seasonal, familiar, and blessing prayers are presented in English, Latin and Irish/Gaelic. This book not only includes the familiar Morning and Evening Prayers of most prayer books, but also includes mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon, and compline. A separate section of prayers includes traditional Catholic prayers such as the Rosary, and selected readings from the Rule of St. Benedict. Northumbrian Community
(Marshall Pickering, 1994) Scriptures and meditative readings for every day of the year! My early mistake was assuming that these selections were complete in and of themselves, and dismissed them as lacking in the liturgical daily office as self-titled. Actually, these readings and meditations are meant to be used within the offices themselves, and the book includes the basic structure of Morning and Night prayers at the beginning (which will teach me to look closer next time I pick up a book). There really is nothing lacking in the meditations that covers writings from early saints up to C.S. Lewis. Fantastic find. Celtic Daily Prayer has recently been re-published, but I think Night Prayer is still out of print. Carmichael, Alexander Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations. One Volume Edition (Lindisfarne Press, Hudson, NY. 1994) Alexander Carmichael spent a good portion of his life from the mid 1890’s to 1910 traveling throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland interviewing common people and writing down their prayers, songs and hymns in what originally turned out to be a six volume set. These are THE prayers that form the basis of what we know about the prayers of our Celtic Christian forbearers, and have become the basis of the style of modern Celtic prayer writing. As others have lamented, it is a shame he didn’t have someone along who could record the music as well! De Waal, Esther Celtic Way of Prayer: Recovery of the Religious Imagination (Doubleday, NY, NY. 1997) A book to be savored, enjoyed and re-read many times, this is much more than a dry history or recounting of a “how they did it”. It’s more of a “how WE can do it, too” This is a primer on how the Celtic Christians incorporated prayer into every aspect of life and arts; in community and solitude; in liturgy and daily life; at home and while ‘journeying’; at rest and at work. Adam, David Cry of the Deer: Meditations on the Hymn of St. Patrick (Morehouse Publishing, Harrisburg, Pa) David Adam, the former Vicar of Lindisfarne, takes the Breastplate of St. Patrick, and breaks it down into stanzas to which he adds his wonderful interpretations, insights, and meditations. Bamford, Christopher and Marsh, William Parker, editors Celtic Christianity: Ecology and Holiness An anthology of Celtic Christianity (Lindisfarne Press, Hudson, NY. 1997) Most of the book is bits and snippets from sources such as the Venerable Bede, the writings of St. Patrick, etc. and arranged in an historically chronological manner. Difficult to read if one wants a concise re-telling of history, but an invaluable resource of early source material that could lead one to more in-depth research. Begins with Patrick and extends though Cuthbert. Davis, Courtney and Gill, Elaine Book of Celtic Saints (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., NY, NY. 1995) Difficult to use as there is no clear pattern of arrangement of the Saints mentioned herein. I thought at first they were arranged by feast day, but they were not. And nor are they arranged by era or alphabetically. Fortunately, there is a table of contents! The purpose of the book was clearly designed to highlight Davis’ wonderful, Iconic illustrations, many of which remind one of the Book of Kells, the hagiography seems to be a secondary purpose, although Elaine Gill’s writing is well researched and presented. Courtney Davis’ art can be seen at http://www.celtic-art.com/ Sellner, Edward C. Wisdom of the Celtic Saints (Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN. 1993) Long considered the textbook for Celtic Christian insight, this book presents “Stories and sayings from Celtic Lives”. Arranged alphabetically by Saint name (Aidan, Brenden, Brigit, etc.), presents nice, easy to read summaries of each Saint’s life, accomplishments and their meaning for us today. The Forward is a basic introduction to the uniqueness of Celtic Christianity. Toulson, Shirley Celtic Year: a Celebration of Celtic Christian Saints, Sights, and Festivals. (Element Books, Rockport, MA. 1993) Also designed to be used along with the Daily Offices, this book takes the Christian year as divided into four sections, each being given the Celtic designation and devoted to a different Gospel Writer (Samhain – November to January – Matthew), and details the better and lesser known Celtic Christian Saints and their feast days, as well as special prayers, blessings and places of pilgrimage associated with that season. (Ms. Toulson is also the author of many ‘walking-tour guides’ in the British Isles.) Alcock, Leslie Arthur’s Britain (Pelican/Penguin Books, NY, NY. 1985) An historical depiction of Britain from the 4th to the 7th Centuries, which includes sketches of Celtic life, mainly around Wales. Prof. Alcock focuses on the Arthurian legends and presents findings from the field of archeology, including the early effects of Christianity in the Isles. Illustrated with pictures of Celtic and British archeological relics. Ashe, Geoffrey Discovery of King Arthur (Anchor Press, Doubleday, NY, NY. 1985) More focused on the Arthurian Legend than Alcock, but has a wonderful chapter on “Saints, Bards and Heroes” that chronicles the early life and mythology of Wales. Unfortunately, most of this is presented as theory. Brown, Peter, editor --Book of Kells (Thames and Hudson, London UK. 1985) History of Celtic Love of literature and the anonymous scribes who created this masterpiece. Includes history of monastic scriptoriums, finding of the book and retelling its history over the centuries. Full color illustrations from the Book of Kells highlight this book. Cahil, Thomas How the Irish Saved Civilization Cahil explores an aspect of Celtic culture that had until that time been almost completely ignored – that the literacy of a tiny island during the Dark Ages preserved and later re-introduced cultural works of literature at a time that these had largely disappeared on the continent. Duncan, Anthony Elements of Celtic Christianity (Element Books, Rockport MA. 1992) Bare Bones history of Christianity in Celtic lands from pre-Patrick to the Norman Invasion. What distinguishes this from a dry history is the inclusion of the chapter called “Celtic Christianity – so what?” that calls for a Celtic Christian revival in modern spirituality: “[Celtic Christianity] calls us back to what we are. It is a recall to reality…the spirituality of the Celt is the living of life with the head in the heart.” MacManus, Seumas Story of the Irish Race (Devin Adair Company, Old Greenwich, Conn. 1980) Basically, the story of Irish civilization from the first Celts to come to Ireland though the Treaty that created the Irish Republic. Told with a Bard’s voice, 12 chapters are dedicated to Celtic Christianity and it’s impact on the development of Irish culture and legal systems. (Possibly out of print?) Toulson, Shirley Celtic Alternative: Reminder of the Christianity We Lost (Rider, London, England. 1987) I discovered this book in a list of ‘other works’ in Ms. Toulson’s book “the Celtic Year” and found that it was not available in the U.S.! So I wrote Ms. Toulson and bought a copy directly from her. At only 150 pages, possibly one of the best ‘concise’ treatments of Celtic Christianity I’ve read. Ms. Toulson clearly feels that Celtic Christianity is “a picture of an open and balanced society which still has much to teach us of tolerance, persistence, and a tough but gentile kindness.” Hunter, III, George G. Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West…Again (Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN. 2000) Well reasoned presentation of the style of evangelism practiced by the Celtic Christians based on source writings and observations from history and the archeology of monastic sites. Applications are suggested as to how Christians today can recover the success of the early Irish missionaries. Downside: The book is a bit too harsh on the British church, and assumes a reality that does not exist: that every successful missionary effort has – whether consciously or unconsciously – mimicked Celtic styles, even if unaware of those styles! Mitton, Michael --The Soul of Celtic Spirituality in the Lives of Its Saints a.k.a. Restoring the Woven Cord (British Title) (Unavailable in the U.S. at this time.) One of the best books to introduce someone to Celtic Christianity. A clear, concise presentation of the elements of Celtic Christian expression with examples of each element as lived by one of the Saints of the time. Each section includes questions for further discussion/thought, and how to apply these elements in our own spiritual walk today. Norris, Kathleen
(both Riverhead Books, NY,NY. 1998, 1996 respectively) Not ‘specifically’ centered on Celtic Christianity, but still worth the price. A recounting of one (Presbyterian) woman’s journey into a deeper spiritual expression as she encounters the Daily Office when she accepts a teaching residency/fellowship at a Benedictine Abbey College and gets into the cycle and rhythm of monastic life and prayer. These books touch on many of the same elements of the Aidan Way. Since the author is a poet, there is an elegance to the books that require a slow, lecto reading of the message. (Cloister Walk is the first of the two books.) Sellner, Edward C.
These two books not only trace the history of the Celtic notion of an anamchara, but offer practical advice, application, examples – and warnings – associated with entering into a Soul Friend relationship. Downside: much of the text I found to be a bit dry and scholarly. However, the information is invaluable if one can get past this minor obstacle. Excerpts of the book can be found at: http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM17/Friendship.html and http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM19/Friendship.html Co. Spinhoven Celtic Borders: Laser-Cut Plastic Stencils (Dover Publications, NY) Three different styles of stencils to decorate your house, mailbox post, fabric/clothing, etc. Sibbett, Jr. Ed Celtic Design Coloring Book (Dover Publications, Inc, NY. 1979) Thirty-seven designs based on the Gospels of Lindisfarne, the Book of Darrow, and the Book of Kells for you to color! Also a great introduction to creating designs to imitate how Celtic scribes created the fantastic illuminations for their works. Sloss, Andy
(Sterling Publishing Co., NY, NY.) A Step-by-step approach to creating knotwork and keywork in the Celtic artistic tradition. Simple, easy to use, graphs give the samples for each step of the way (it helps to practice on graph paper at first, to get the hang of spacing, etc. |