Issue number 1. March 17, 2004
Greetings and welcome everyone to our first newsletter! The last three months have been
incredible for the Celtic Society of Christ. All of our new members are great guys
with a real love for the Lord Jesus, and for their Celtic Heritage. When
you have high quality members in an organization such as ours, it helps to increase
the public's overall perception of us, as well as helping to draw in new members.
I have recently linked three of our new members sites to our links page and I know
they would appreciate every one checking their sites out.
The CSOC has managed to earn enough money from donations to keep the website free of
adds for at least another two months. When the money is not there, I have covered the costs
myself, and will continue to do so. Any donations that are now earned will go directly to
helping the mission of the Celtic Companions of St. Francis (CCSF).
The CCSF was accepted to be members of the Franciscans International, which is a
non-governmental office of the United Nations. Also, the CCSF as been accepted as associate
members of the Franciscan Federation, an organization that primarily consists of Third Order
Regular Franciscan groups. They will link our website once their web problems are fixed.
I urge everyone to check out their links on our website when they get a chance.
His birth name was Maewyn, and came from a well off Roman family.
When St. Patrick was 16 Irish marauders captured him,
and he spent the next 6 years as a slave in Ireland,
which was a pagan country.
While in Ireland, St. Patrick developed a very
deep personal relationship with the Lord.
After escaping from Ireland, St. Patrick went to Gaul (Spain)
and studied under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for twelve years.
St. Patrick always felt that his lack of schooling while he was a slave,
made him less scholarly compared to his peers.
Though Patrick originally wanted to return to Ireland
to try to convert the Irish to Christianity,
his superiors decided to sent St. Palladius instead,
who was to become the first Bishop of Ireland.
After two years in Ireland, St. Palladius transferred to Scotland and
St. Patrick was appointed the second Bishop of Ireland.
St. Patrick used the customs and the Gaelic Language he learned as a slave
to help gain the acceptance and trust of the Irish.
He also blended many elements of the Celtic Pagan Religions that were
similar to Christianity to form what is known today as Celtic Christianity.
Because of the brilliance of St. Patrick to blend the
similar elements together, Christianity quickly spread throughout Ireland,
with Ireland being the only country to completely accept
Christianity without any type of bloodshed.
St. Patrick’s mission in Ireland lasted for 30 years,
and he was able to setup churches, monasteries
and schools throughout Ireland.
St. Patrick died on March 17th, 461 Ad,
in County Down where he had retired.
The St. Patrick's Day custom first came to America
in 1737, where it was celebrated in Boston.
Pronunciation: /ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv/
Lá Fhéile Pádraig = Saint Patrick's Day
Pronunciation: /law ae-leh paw-rig/
sláinte = cheers
Pronunciation: /sloynta/
Éireann go Brách = Ireland Forever
Pronunciation: /Erin guh brawk/
Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. = A pint of Guinness, please.
Pronunciation: /pyunta Guinness leh duh hull/
beor uaine = green beer
Pronunciation: /byore oo-hin-ah/
A Poem by Seryddwr, one of our members
AFTER THE CELTIC POETS, THIS SACRIFICE OF PRAISE"+
Christ came to us, in flesh was born
that none need live with sin's foul scorn.
That we might live eternally,
He died upon the Roman tree.
Dawn, shining on His empty tomb,
showed that He conquered our death's doom.
He gave His life that we might live;
thus freed, we need not take . . . but give.
A little less is often more;
the rich have woes, blest are the poor.
We have an altar, and a right
to it, who walk by faith---not sight.
Even in midst of life's distress,
we are both blessed and called to bless.
Pease we ensue, and peace we seek---
the pure in spirit and the meek.
Judge not the one who has not heard
the Gospel's joyous, saving Word.
Judge not nor measure anyone:
that privilege God grants to His Son.
Conclude the night, begin the day,
upon your knees---time made to pray.
Let each of ours devoutly work:
in sloth, temptations slyly lurk.
Christ, Who once calmed the storm-tossed sea,
can calm the storms in you, in me.
Christ, Who has raised the dead to life,
can raise up concord out of strife.
Christ, from Whose Hand we cannot slip,
keeps us close in His Fellowship.
Part not with friends left in the lurch---
out in the world, or in the church.
In Christ's name, what you consecrate---
you will the more appreciate.
Let not the hard look or soft pout
exclude, or drive, the brethren out.
Sow Gospel seeds in every field,
but let Christ tally up the yield.
A title need not tag your name,
for all who serve Christ are the same.
Keep eyes on Christ, ears on His Word,
that peace of mind may be assured.
None of the flesh has right to judge;
for flesh prefers to bear a grudge.
The soul that, seeking Christ, is healed,
is, in the Holy Ghost, now sealed.
You need not fear the world's dark night
if you have love, for love is light.
Seek not the crowns for their own sake
but that more faith you may partake.
© . . . Seryddwr
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