The advent of Christianity in the spiritual world of the Celts is complex. We know from the nature of their calendar that the winter solstice was a time for celebration, at the darkest time of the year, of the rebirth of the sun’s power and anticipation of the return of its light. Celtic Christians welcome the birth of light of a spiritual nature as well in the birth of the Christ-child.

    Like many ancient peoples, they depended upon word of mouth to pass on their knowledgeand wisdom from one generation to another. One of the more intriguing tales that has survived is that of the connection of Saint Bridget who is said to have been present at the birth of Jesus and acted as midwife to Mary. She is also called the foster mother of Christ, and is the patroness of Spring and birth. It is in this way that the Celts associated the divine event with the link between the physical and the spiritual worlds, a connection they had made in many other ways for generations.

    Another legend declares that the Druids, who were the custodians of the oral tradition and esoteric knowledge, were clairvoyantly aware of Christ’s birth and his subsequent crucifixion. One legend tells of a precious cup that was sent to Jerusalem to be used at the Last Supper, and subsequently returned by Joseph of Arimathea when he came to Glastonbury to establish the first Christian settlement in the British Isles. In this way, it is believed that the Celts embraced the Christian faith long before it became the official religion of Rome.

    The invasions of the Roman legions, along with later destructive raids of the Saxons, Angles and Vikings, were responsible for the loss of a great deal of Celtic culture, but much of the art and skills of craft and design survived. The arrival of the Christian faith provided this artistic heritage with a variety of expressive outlets such as illuminated Christian books, carved crosses and metal shrines. Fortunately, many Celtic myths were also preserved in artistic manuscripts.

    Christian Celts look upon St. John rather than St. Peter or St. Paul as their spiritual forebear and feel that their particular tradition of faith has come down directly from him. This affection has obvious connection to their ancient beliefs in that John’s more esoteric Gospel book portrays Christ as the light of the world, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. It speaks directly to the Celtic belief in the wholeness and interdependence of all creation. The Light and the Word are joined, and the creative word expressed in Christ is the light shining from the heart of God.

 

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Part Six of a Series

by Elder Bob Bassler