Wednesday, July 2, 2008

THE CELTIC WAY OF PRAYER



In the Celtic Christian tradition there was no seperation between the sacred and the secular. Life was seen as a hole and the Trinity present in every moment. Prayer therefore was a natural as breathing. The Celt practice was to pray or invoke God's involement for, during and about everything (good, beautiful,...). This facilates a very natural and organic approach to prayer and God's presence.
Prayers for frequent activities like lighting the fireplace, milking the cow etc. were learned by heart and handed down by word of mouth or later in writing.


Being an oral and creative culture facilated this very natural approach to prayer.The use of the imagination became second nature. For example, by imagining that Jesus, his mother or friends are in our back garden, workplace or bedroom! As we imagine this, we begin to sense what they would think and do if they were us and respond in very natural prayer.

The Celtic way is to bless everything in life (except evil), however earthy or ordinary. Animals, bicycles, computers, exams, food, gifts, jobs, love-making, meals, parties, travel – try it!

Over the course of the month we'll look at some celtic invocations, blessings and types of prayer. As your introduced to this more natural approach to prayer apply it and experience a deeping awarness of the all enveloping presence of the triune God, we have been invited to friendship with.

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