"Authority in the Celtic Christian chruch
Rob: Wow!
What a pregnant and powerful post for us to ponder.
You could hardly have chosen a more exquisitely relevant quote from O’Donohue for purposes here. Then you own extending remarks add delicious relevance to the Celic view of authoirty.
Thank you for this discerning gift to this discussion. Thank you also, Thomas, for the sharing of your journey. Yes, authority is a relationship of respect, trust and love, (Anam Cara) in which we feel empowered and trusted to participate in a mutual and shared authorship of our own faith journey. Yes.
Celtic wisdom arises, (I propose, with O’Donohue) from a circle of belonging, from the circular rhythms of life, of nature, of he universe, of love, of many gifted views coming together for an authentic sharing and enriched faith witness. “The Celtic imagination was fascinated with the circle.” (O’D) It viewed all life as circular in natural welcoming rhythms, each a singular glimpse of Divine Beauty (which in O’Donohue’s phrase, could only visit, never lingers).
Allow me to support and add to Rob and Thomas comments. True authority emerges then from the shared witness of faith with a diversity of gifts (yes, Cait!) and giftedness. In this circle of belonging members have the mutual authority of experience, the authority of survival, the authority of persistence, and finally, the responsibility to give the authority of example. (Another YES, Rob, this is the best kind, that is, not words but example).
Thus, the ultimate authority in the community of shared Celtic faith commitment and witness is the Gospel inspired behavior of its members. Guidance is expressed through the circles of synods, priests, bishops and laity, a circle of belonging and shared commitment. The light, energy and beauty is circular rather than linear, dualistic or hierarchical.
“Circle” is the most frequent metaphor used by O’Donohue in his description of Celiac Wisdom, with “unity” and “beauty” not far behind. I have found this discussion energizing. I will post this on my biog. and invite further responses there, if not here. I aim t o use Anam Cara to kick start a discussion group here this fall.
I am incredibly blessed to be part of this community.
Paschal Baute
Noblesse Oblige
Thank you for this discerning gift to this discussion. Thank you also, Thomas, for the sharing of your journey. Yes, authority is a relationship of respect, trust and love, (Anam Cara) in which we feel empowered and trusted to participate in a mutual and shared authorship of our own faith journey. Yes.
Celtic wisdom arises, (I propose, with O’Donohue) from a circle of belonging, from the circular rhythms of life, of nature, of he universe, of love, of many gifted views coming together for an authentic sharing and enriched faith witness. “The Celtic imagination was fascinated with the circle.” (O’D) It viewed all life as circular in natural welcoming rhythms, each a singular glimpse of Divine Beauty (which in O’Donohue’s phrase, could only visit, never lingers).
Allow me to support and add to Rob and Thomas comments. True authority emerges then from the shared witness of faith with a diversity of gifts (yes, Cait!) and giftedness. In this circle of belonging members have the mutual authority of experience, the authority of survival, the authority of persistence, and finally, the responsibility to give the authority of example. (Another YES, Rob, this is the best kind, that is, not words but example).
Thus, the ultimate authority in the community of shared Celtic faith commitment and witness is the Gospel inspired behavior of its members. Guidance is expressed through the circles of synods, priests, bishops and laity, a circle of belonging and shared commitment. The light, energy and beauty is circular rather than linear, dualistic or hierarchical.
“Circle” is the most frequent metaphor used by O’Donohue in his description of Celiac Wisdom, with “unity” and “beauty” not far behind. I have found this discussion energizing. I will post this on my biog. and invite further responses there, if not here. I aim t o use Anam Cara to kick start a discussion group here this fall.
I am incredibly blessed to be part of this community.
Paschal Baute
Noblesse Oblige
posted by Paschal Baute | 6:06 PM
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