There the triumphs and miracles/of Coemgen are unknown in their history,/because there no longer remain narrators/to tell of their virtues.

  - Anonymous, Metrical Life of Coemgen (Irish, 17th century, from and earlier ms.)

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

  - Psalm 78.4

I can't help but feel the sadness our writer knew as he reflected on the fact that already in his own day, just a century or so after the great Coemgen had founded the monastery at Glendalough, his memory was already beginning to fade.

By the ninth and tenth century the Christians of Ireland and their pastors had already begun to prefer ease, esteem, and material prosperity to the work of the Gospel. After four centuries the Celtic revival had played out, and the generation reported on by our anonymous author had no interest in the great achievements of the past.

I feel his sadness because I see this same neglect in the church and her leaders today. Rarely do I meet a pastor - and almost never a lay person - who knows enough about Church history to sketch a meaningful outline. The names of great saints, pastors, theologians, and martyrs from the past mean almost nothing to most of today's Christians. We have a faith which is good enough for us. Why should we trouble ourselves with the lives and teachings of those people who lived so long ago?

Well, for one thing, because without their faithfulness, we might not have the Gospel today.

But there is more. Saints like Coemgen, Patrick, Colum Cille, and the more familiar Christians of generations past have left us examples of instruction and service which, if we could learn from them, would soon bring revival to the complacent churches of our land.

And March is as good a month as any to renew your own interest in Church history - starting, of course, with Patrick. Are you reading the Scriptorium columns at the website? There I'm working through the theology of Patrick, which is a theology of grace and gratitude, if ever there was one. We're not so far into this study that you couldn't easily catch up. Just click the Scriptorium heading and all the latest columns in this series will appear. Read Patrick's story in his own words, and then let me explain his thinking to you. (Think how your friends will be impressed on March 17!)

And if you have not yet read The Legacy of Patrick, my brief introduction to Patrick and the entire Celtic Revival, then you should order a copy today. No, order two or three copies and read it together with some friends. Start a new tradition of giving gifts of Church history to your pastor or a Christian friend to mark Patrick's special day.

You can even begin to "get in step" with those old Celtic saints by signing up for the course, Spiritual Maturity 1: Revival, at The Ailbe Seminary. It's free, and you'll discover some of the reasons why this ministry, with its deep appreciation of the Celtic saints, exists.

Everyone else may scorn our Christian past, ignoring and thus, in a real sense, despising those who gave their lives for the propagation of the Gospel. But that doesn't mean you and I have to go along with them.

Especially when opportunities are right here, right now, to get you started in a brand new/old adventure of growing in your Christian faith.

This ministry exists to serve you. Why not let us do so?

T. M. Moore, Principal

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.