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The new ancestry investigation tool has indicated my predecessors were as likely to have come from Wales, Scotland and Britain as from Ireland. My interest peaked, I've discovered hundreds of saints who are celebrated in these Celtic countries which experienced a great spiritual flowering in the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries.
Among these many holy ones is young Melangell who is pictured here with the hare she saved. The artist, Tracy Christianson, has kindly shared her soul-awake portrait. Ah, like Melangell, may we take creation to our hearts and embrace it dearly.
For me, prayer is an act of down-to-earth love. The purpose of prayer isn't to get God to change his mind but for us to stand before God in a great stretching, expanding or crying out of the heart. Celtic prayer understands this. Nothing is held back from God in Celtic prayer - the most ordinary and humble aspects of life are holy.
One ancient prayer invites the saints to help with the farm work - even the milking of the cow. We might find our way to invoke heaven in our own time - not unlike the Celtic Middle ages - a hard time, barbaric, warlike and difficult in its own right.
So I've selected twenty saints, four each from the five ancient Celtic countries of Cornwall, Ireland, Wales, Breton and Scotland. The first two in each cluster are male saints, the second two are female. I want to savor their intriguing names.
Often times the saint is all but forgotten except the name and perhaps what role he or she played in history. These are royals, monastics, martyrs, bishops, healers, gardeners, hermits, missionaries, Sometimes the saint's story informs the little prayer line which follows. St. Ursicinus for example, is the patron saint of those with stiff-necks. But "stiff necked" causes me to think of a self righteous, condescending human attitude. Tylenol might well be taken to remedy the physical kind.
One ancient prayer invites the saints to help with the farm work - even the milking of the cow. We might find our way to invoke heaven in our own time - not unlike the Celtic Middle ages - a hard time, barbaric, warlike and difficult in its own right.
So I've selected twenty saints, four each from the five ancient Celtic countries of Cornwall, Ireland, Wales, Breton and Scotland. The first two in each cluster are male saints, the second two are female. I want to savor their intriguing names.
Often times the saint is all but forgotten except the name and perhaps what role he or she played in history. These are royals, monastics, martyrs, bishops, healers, gardeners, hermits, missionaries, Sometimes the saint's story informs the little prayer line which follows. St. Ursicinus for example, is the patron saint of those with stiff-necks. But "stiff necked" causes me to think of a self righteous, condescending human attitude. Tylenol might well be taken to remedy the physical kind.
Come, holy Tallanus - the nation's heart needs intensive care.
Come, holy Piran - keep me from making a mess of things today.
Come, holy Morwenna - get this tongue and temper under control.
Come, holy Ia, water the seeds of gratitude within.
Come, holy Ursicinus - bend the stiff-necked.
Come, holy Fiacre - in the basil, the parsley, the sage and dill.
Come, holy Ita - turn right-side-up the scowling face.
Come, holy Godnait - in the heartache and hopes, the noise and the quiet.
Come, holy Cadfan - in the outrage and indignation.
Come, holy Teilo - restore in us Christ's gentling, spirit-touch.
Come, holy Melangell - heart-goodness for the presidents, the prelates, the prime ministers and premiers.
Come, holy Winifred - in the wells and waterways.
Come, holy Gildas - these ungracious days of discourtesy.
Come, holy Briag - may every child be welcomed and loved.
Come, holy Non - in the homework, the housework, the yardwork.
Come, holy Canna - soothe the suffering and the sick ones.
Come, holy Fergus - in the waking up, the washing up, the food and drink.
Come, holy Donnan - in the pain and pleasure, disappointment and dreaming.
Come, holy Triduana - in the hastening, the pausing, the forgiving and the setting out again.
Come, holy Margaret - in the goal of this day: God alone.
