Staff Writer
What do the ancient Celts, the Earth and God have in common? A retreat at the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Niskayuna will try to answer that question.
Sister Margaret Mahoney, RSM, from Merion, Penn., will take participants on a journey titled, "Looking at Creation with a Celtic Heart: A Weekend for Men and Women Based on Celtic Spirituality."
"This weekend will offer opportunities to appreciate the gift of God's creation and to increase awareness of the Earth as a primary revelation of His presence," she told The Evangelist. "I plan to do this through the lens of the Celtic eye and heart that, I believe, evokes in us a sense of wonder and awe at God's goodness."
Celtic touch
Recently, Sister Margaret took a sabbatical from her job as director of development for the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Catherine de Ricci, based near Philadelphia, to visit Ireland. She spent time becoming re-acquainted with Celtic tradition and spirituality.
"I realized there that I have a deep conviction that both creation and Celtic spirituality have brought me closer to God," she said. "That's what I hope to give others an opportunity to see in this retreat. It's like opening a door, or from the Celtic perspective, lifting a veil."
Sister Margaret said that the ancient Celts believed that a thin veil existed between their world and eternity; when loved ones passed through the veil, it was lifted. Catholics today can symbolically lift that veil and enter that holy place where God exists to experience His presence more closely.
Candles and prayers
A "cosmic walk" is planned for the retreat, Sister Margaret said, calling it "a form of prayer that is done through a series of candle-lightings as we pray. The purpose of this prayer is to have participants ask, 'How do I see God through the eyes of creation and Celtic spirituality?'
"I believe that the Celts taught us much in the way of respecting the earth and creation. They had a blessing for everything in their lives: the rising and setting of the sun, harvest and even milking cows! They were geared towards the presence of God in their lives on a day-to-day basis. My hope is to have participants look at creation and discover for themselves what the Celts knew deep in their hearts."
(The retreat will be held April 19-21. To register, contact the Dominican Spiritual Life Center at 393-4169.)