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religion that is in close dialogue with nature rather than withdrawn from it;…”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)
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 12th and 13th 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.
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.
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