Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

  - 2 Corinthians 3.1, 2

I journeyed among you, and everywhere, for your sake, often in danger, even to the uttermost parts beyond which there is nothing, places where no one had ever arrived to baptize or to ordain clergy or to confirm the people. By the Lord's grace, I achieved all these results, conscientiously and gladly for your salvation.

  - Patrick, Confession, Irish, 5th century

I'm sometimes challenged about my interest in Celtic Christianity and my belief that we have much to learn from the scanty records left by this courageous and faithful people.

“After all,” someone will say, “name me one great Celtic theologian. Or one work from that period that has benefited the whole Church. Or one great person whose achievements – whatever they may have truly been – aren’t shrouded in a lot of myth and fable.”

But the facts speak for themselves. At a time when the light of learning and the fires of piety were going out all over Europe, from a remote pagan land God brought forth a revival such as had not been seen since the first and second centuries of the Church.

He raised up men of renown – Patrick, Erc, Finnian, Columba, Coemgen, Brendan, Columbanus, Aidan, and thousands more – who risked their lives to bring the Gospel to heathen peoples, to encourage revival among moribund churches, and to train their successors for more evangelical fervor than they had themselves.

No, there aren’t many written records from this period. But hundreds of monastic ruins, thousands of archaeological and cultural records, and just enough written testimony remain to convince us that God did something really significant during this period, 430-790 AD.

The results speak for themselves: all over Europe churches were renewed, new forms of culture were created, ancient learning was preserved and passed on, multiplied thousands came to faith in Jesus Christ, and thousands of others were ordained to ministries that, in many cases, ended up costing them their lives.

No, these people are not household names – like the Fathers of the Church or the Reformers, or even the slick-haired televangelists of our day – but without them, beloved friends, we might not have the Gospel today.

So give thanks for our Celtic Christian forebears. And ask yourself, for the year to come: “What can I learn from these courageous and godly saints, to enhance my own walk and ministry in the Lord?”

And know that, as you seek answers to that question, we’ll be here to help you in your quest.

Psalm 33.20-22 (Truro: “Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns”)
God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You, to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

I do thank You, Lord, for every faithful witness and servant from all the generations who have come before ours.

This Week at The Fellowship
We pray that you will have a blessed Christmas with your loved ones, and that this season of Incarnation will put you in mind of the powerful ways God shows Himself sovereign and loving every day of our lives. Visit the website this week and check out our new columns. Forward Crosfigell to a friend. Sign up for a course, or order a book from our online store. Let us know how we can serve you better in the year to come. Our desire is to serve a community of people committed to the values of God’s Kingdom and devoted to lifelong learning for the honor and glory of Christ. We thank God that you are long with us for this journey.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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