In the fervent, resounding chanting of hymns
by thousands of angels flourishing in their holy dances,
and by the four beasts full of eyes,
and by the twenty-four elders
casting their crowns beneath the feet of the Lamb of God,
the Trinity receives threefold praise eternally.

The wrathful zeal of fire will consume the enemy,
who do not wish to believe that Christ came from God the Father.
But we will straightway fly to meet him,
and will be with him in various ranks
of dignity, according to the merits of [our] eternal rewards,
and will remain in glory forever and ever.

Who can satisfy God in the last times,
when the noble rules of truth have been changed,
save for those who scorn this present world?
I invoke God the unbegotten Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
and his Son, begotten before ages,
and God the Holy Spirit, true, single, most exalted,
that he may grant his most helpful assistance
to me, though I am the least of all the deserving,
to whom the Lord will grant comradeship with the angels in their thousands.

Translation, John Carey, King of Mysteries

Altus Prosator (“Exalted First Sower”) demonstrates many of the unique features of the Christianity which flourished among the Celtic peoples from the fifth to the ninth century. First, and most obvious, is their love of art, poetry, and song. Even so great an evangelist and thinker as Colum, founder of the monastic community on Iona, understood the value and power of poetry, and here we see him putting it to use with profound theological and practical effects.

Altus also reveals something about the Celtic Christian reliance on Scripture. Patrick established the template for this. His brief Confession contains over 100 references or allusions to Scripture. Colum’s Altus might be seen as a kind of theological propaedeutic for understanding the history from a Biblical perspective, within a framework defined by the redeeming work of Christ. The poem begins in creation, journeys through the fall and its effects, proclaims the Gospel, and points ahead to the coming day of judgment.

A primary concern of Altus, which we see in many other representatives from this period, is the focus on a coming day of promise (as we saw with Brendan) and judgment (as here). Celtic Christians, following the advice of the apostles Paul (1 Cor. 15), Peter (2 Pet. 3), and John (2 Jn. 3), as well as the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 11, 12) and the Lord Jesus Himself, encouraged believers to live in the present with an eye on their eternal destination. Indeed, as we see here, with Colum’s reference to Revelation 5 in the first stanza, Celtic Christians sought to live the “then and there” in their “here and now” by participating with saints, angels, and all creation in the worship and adoration of the Triune God.

Column asks the question that motivated much of Celtic Christianity during this period: “Who can satisfy God in the last times…?” Sin has corrupted all ideas about truth, so that men are captive to the lie of the devil. Only those “who scorn the present world” and “believe that Christ came from God the Father” can maintain the kind of focus on unseen things and coming realities which is necessary to live above the false gods and vain allurements of the present age.

Column did not mean by this that Christians should forsake every aspect of their worldly existence and take themselves to a monastery, or become hermits for the Lord. Some, indeed, many did follow this route during the Celtic Revival, but only as a distinct calling from the Lord confirmed by those who knew them. Even in the monasteries, however, Christians were involved in the world of work and culture, as well as the daily affairs of the community associated with them in the “suburbs” of the monastery. It is not necessary to leave the world of work, family, law, culture, play, and the like in order to “scorn” it. Celtic Christians sought to bring the unseen realities of faith into their daily experience, with a view to transforming their present so that it would line up better with the future which lay ahead. This is why we see the influence of their faith on such “worldly” things as law, family life, art, and education.

Altus was written to give monks and those they served a concise overview and reminder of the importance of their calling. With Colum we should be encouraged to pray that God would daily “grant his most helpful assistance” to us as we pursue our journey of faith toward the City to Come.

For more insight to the legacy of the Celtic Christian period, order a copy of T. M.’s book, The Legacy of Patrick, from our online store.