Mother Earth Nurturing Peace in a Time of War and Destruction

Sosegado:  Nakal Kolonton

“Está sentado mi corazón”

 An ancient Mayan image envisoned by Naúl Ojeda, Diccionario del Corazón, by Robert M. Laughlin, Smithsonian Institute, Taller Leñateros, 2002.

An Angry Mother Earth Over the Destruction of Creation by War and Greed

 

Encenderse de ira:  

Xch'ach'on kolonton,  "Es un enjambre mi corazón"

Aflame with rage, "My heart is in a swarm"

An ancient Mayan image envisoned by Naúl Ojeda, Diccionario del Corazón, by Robert M. Laughlin, Taller Leñateros, 2002.

The Sacred Earth and Irish Celtic Spirituality

 

Only a fool would fail

To praise God in his might

When the mindless birds

Praise Him in their flight.

Anonymous (Ancient Irish poem translated by Brenden Kennelly)

 

The global crisis of climate change, which is causing destruction of flora and fauna is life threatening to humanity and to all of global creation. “Mother Earth is the focus and the sacred container where the current spiritual adventure is to be played out. “ (Fox)   Without getting into specifics, Hans-Otto Poertner, co-chair of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change, says “the science is clear that there are limits – to what key ecosystems, species and humans can withstand.” (MJS,  p. 4A )

What is the role of faith? Joe Hill, the labor martyr, says, “Religion is pie in the sky.”  Joe Hill’s notion of religion comes from the current dualistic spirituality separating nature into natural and supernatural.

 Dualistic spirituality originates with St. Augustine and his Platonic theology that is spiritualism without grounding.  Saint Patrick of Ireland saw nature as the revelation of the Creator.

  “There is something peculiarly attractive about the Christianity of the early Celtic speaking peoples, which continues to exercise a considerable fascination on many today.  … The intricate, interweaving designs and natural motifs [of the Gospel illustrations] convey the impression of a religion that is in close dialogue with nature rather than withdrawn from it;…” (Celtic Spirituality, p. 3)  

 

BOOK OF KELLS

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland (c. 385-461).  He was a slave, a worker, a shepherd who, under the nighttime sky, tending his flock, was well aware that the earth was part of a bigger universe, the cosmos.  Augustine by contrast was an aristocratic academic.  Ungrounded Platonic ideas shaped his theology. 

For Patrick the Creator, Christ, the Spirit is everywhere in nature.   

I arise today                                                        

Through the strength of heaven;                                                                                                                                                                                                       Light of sun,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Radiance of moon, 

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightening,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Swiftness of wind,                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Depth of sea,                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Stability of earth,                                                                                                                                          

Firmness of rock. 

(From St. Patrick’s Breastplate, Cahill, )

Irish spirituality can be seen in the following Irish leaders in faith. 

Saint Brigit was the abbess of Kildare, governing a large territory of Ireland.  She was referred to as a pre-Christian Irish fertility goddess because of a repeated emphasis on her miracles that involved the production of food or animal husbandry. (Celtic Spirituality, p. 33)

In direct contrast with Augustine, Celtic theologian Pelagius had a different understanding of faith. (354-420 AD) Pelagius did not agree with Augustine’s insistence on ‘original sin’ as the cause for Christ’s incarnation.  (Celtic Spirituality, p 56-57.)  Redemption is the responsibility and the thrust of humankind and nature. 

A later Celtic theologian Scottus Eriugena delivered a sermon (#14) [815 -877 AD] (Celtic Spirituality, p. 423) which reflected a Johanine background.  It showed an affinity with his thoughts and awareness of the presence of the divine in the living forms of the earth.  Scottus Eruigena was invited to teach on the continent by Charles the Bald.  Both Scottus Eriugena and Pelagius were condemned by Rome.  John Scottus Eriugena is not to be confused with John Duns Scottus (1255-1308 AD). The name ‘Eriugena’ refers to Scottus being from Ireland.  John Duns Scottus is from Scotland. 

 Irish theologians took part in the Spanish renaissance of the 12^th and 13^th centuries.  Michael Scot and Peter of Ireland strongly influenced the young Thomas Aquinas in his early studies at Naples.  Propositions asserted by Thomas were condemned in 1277 by the Bishop of Paris, Stephen Tempier, as being materialistic.

Missionaries of Celtic spirituality led by Saint Columbanus spread through the continent and were especially effective in the Rhine Valley.  The theology of Meister Eckhart, Saint Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen and the Beguines were influenced by Celtic spirituality.

(The Course of Irish History)

These thoughts on Irish leaders teach us our role in the challenge of the climate crisis.  What does faith have to offer?  The motivating power of charity, love of God and creation, is the road to redemption.  “You need not just incremental change,” said Debra Roberts, a South African environmental scientist, at the United Nations Foundation briefing.  “You need systemic change.”  (MJS, p. 4A)

Greta Thunberg tells us, “Hope doesn’t come from words,…,Hope only comes from actions.”  (goodreads.com)

 

Resources

Matthew Fox, Order of the Sacred Earth,Monkfish Book Publishing Company, New York.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, UN Report on Climate Change Will Be Grim, February 15. 2022.

The Classics of Western Spirituality:  Celtic Spirituality, Thomas O’Loughlin. Paulist Press, 1999.

The Penguin Book of Irish Verse, introduced and edited by Brendan Kennelly, Penguin Books, England,1970.

How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill, Doubleday, New York 1995.

The Course of Irish History, edited by T.W. Moody and F. X. Martin, The Mercier Press, Cork, 1967.

goodreads.com)

James A. Weisheipl, O.P. , Friar Thomas D’Aquino, his life, thought and works, Doubleday, New York, 1974.

St. Patrick of Ireland:  a biography, Philip Freeman, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2004.