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| Kommunionglöcklein-01 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: Irish Celtic Cross (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: Vector version of a design from the Book of Kells, fol. 29r. Traced outlines in black and white representing three intertwined dogs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Is Celtic Christianity a legitimate faith apart from the
historic practices of the Roman Church? It depends who you ask. Some see it as
a subtype of Christianity marked by beliefs and practices that have come to be regarded
as Celtic. Serious orthodox Celtic Christians believe it is a separate entity
that can rival Roman and the various assorted Eastern churches for legitimacy. Orthodoxy
theme churches whose roots reached back to before a 1000 A.D. A church that
defined itself outside of the influence of Rome is a catholic church. The creeds of the
Ancient Churches unite the orthodox. A
cultural catholic Church is one whose liturgical and theological practices are
marked by the local landscape and histories
Legend seems to support the idea o that Celtic Christianity
had roots outside of Rome .
A tradition of the Church having been founded by St. Joseph of a Arimathea in the Brithish
Isles raised questions about Peters claims to the keys of Heaven in Celtic
lands.
Peter was not the source of faith for the Celts. Supposedly
the illustrious King Arthur was buried in the abbey founded by Joseph of Arimathea..
Like family history, it the ultimate truth of the story is not important but its
influence on future generations.
Joseph of Arimathea is
said to have been a merchant of tin. In his many trips to the tin mines in
Roman Britain he occasionally brought his nephew Jesus. What give the Celtic
Christians more legitimacy then having the Christ himself walk the soil? It is
also said the Joseph of Armathea brought the Blessed Mother to England
after the Assumption of Christ . What
could make a Church less Roman then its
roots than having the Holy Family using the British Isles
as a home away from home! We almost must not forget Joseph brought the Holy
Grail to Celt country.
Legend is fickle because it also says that St. Patrick
founded Christianity in Ireland .
St. Patrick brought the authority of the Roman Church to Ireland , but
not the faith. History supports the idea that Celtic Christianity was there
first.
So what makes the Celtic faith better than its kissing Roman
cousin? The ideas that became central to fourth century faith had their roots
in ancient Celtic cultural beliefs. The Druids got their tradition of
respecting women in Celtic
Church Celtic Church
Core Celtic values are a respect for nature, gender
inclusiveness, and egalitarian liturgical practice. There is a place that the
faith escaped the hierarchical patriarchal influence of Roman culture. The
faith a Rome
may have flourished because of it’s compatibility with the patriarchal ideas
that infested tribal Judaism from the start. Many today wish to have little
connection to Middle Eastern culture. It was in that patriarchal environment early
Churhmen killed the best expression of the female Divine. Tribal Judaism marked
scripture with nothing but misogynic hated of the Goddess and spiritual
fertility.
When Rome found out about its
cousin the Celtic churches separate tradition it felt bound to crush Celtic
expression of the faith Rome
to use Peter’s hierarchal hammer to dismantle the Celtic faith. The Synod of Whit
by in 664 AD was such an attempt. It was about establishing Peter as the keeper
of the keys to Heaven and the Roman Church keeper of proper Christian
expression. Still Celtic faith defined the conversions and practices of the British
Isles and Ireland
for Centuries. Rome
in later times martyred and suppressed the adherents of Celtic beliefs.. The
thoughts of the great monks and thinkers of Celtic churchman were purged from
the libraries of Europe, except for Ireland .
Radical Protestants in Scotland
tried to use the existence of a Celtic
Church establish a spiritual history
apart from Rome .
Celtic practices that were egalitarian, but not without respect proper order.
Celtic Christianity never elicited Christian conformity from their ancient
sister churches. Celtic churches simply wanted to maintain a catholic faith
that was relevant to the culture and traditions of their people. If such cultural control had been given to
the ancient orthodox Churches the Reformation may have only impacted those of Roman
Catholic Faith.
Anglicanism being defined by ‘bridge ‘ Church status only
fails as a orthodox expression of Christian faith in it’s more extreme forms.
Celtic Christianity does not seek to be a more right believing faith, but one
that can speak to the needs of those who feel culturally separated from catholic faith. The natural world becomes a
place to experience God’s grace. It is a place where while not co creators with
God, we are co workers. Creation is not flawed waiting for salvation. It is
God’s perfection waiting for our protection.
Apostolic succession separates those bodies of Christ
celebrating legitimate diversity in the Church from heresy. There are many
proper expressions of Christian faith and practice. There are none outside of God’s protection of
true Catholicism universal truth. The ancient Church creeds are that protect Orthodox
faith, not Peter.
Celtic Christian practice offers a people of Northern
European ancestry; a chance to celebrate their Christian roots apart from the
various flavors of Lutheranism, Calvinism and Reform Protestantism. It is a
place to finally call home; when the search of a spiritually legitimate
catholic Christian experience ends. Celtic catholic practice can take place
within the context of the various expressions of Anglicanism or within a well
defined corner of Roman Catholic expression.
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