Listening for the Heartbeat of God
A retreat that explores the
rhythms and beauty of Celtic Spirituality
Celtic spirituality is both ancient and fresh. It usually brings to mind Ireland and Scotland, but it grew out of the nomadic experiences of the Celts as they moved west from Eastern Europe, and the immanent mysticism of the Desert fathers and mothers. It celebrates God’s presence in all things, all places and all times. It is deeply Trinitarian and looks for God in nature and in our human experiences, in poetry, in music and in art. This weekend will use Celtic spirituality to find God all around us and to celebrate God’s presence in each other. If you play a musical instrument, bring it. Saturday evening we may just have a ceilidh! If the weather cooperates, we might be able to have it under the stars!
I am an enthusiastic practitioner of Celtic prayer. My presentations will include multimedia mixes of music and photos from Scotland and Ireland, prayers by Saint Columba and those recited by fishermen’s wives on the Orkney Islands. Two of these weekends are currently scheduled:
- May 14-18, 3012 at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley, North Carolina
The title for this retreat comes from a wonderful book Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality by J. Philip Newell (Paulist Press, 1997). This book, and the prayer books Philip wrote while serving as the rector of the Iona Community in Scotland, have informed and inspired my practice and study of Celtic Spirituality.
