Celtic Prayers from Iona

By J. Philip Newell and John Philip Newell

Book Overview

The little island of Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland is known as one of Britain's most historic holy places. It is remembered as the cradle of Christianity for much of Scotland and northern England. The Celtic mission from Iona, however, clashed with the sixth-century Roman mission, which represented a radically different way of seeing. This led to the Synod of Whitby in 664 and the tragic displacement of Celtic spirituality to the fringes of British Christianity. It lived on, however, almost as a spiritual resistance movement among the prayers of the people of the Western Isles. These were not so much religious prayers as songs and chants used in the context of daily life. They celebrated the essential goodness of all created life while not being naive or unaware of suffering and the bondage of evil.

Celtic Prayers from Iona is an attempt to incorporate aspects of this ancient stream into a pattern of weekly prayer for use today. It was initially written for use by members and associates of the present-day Iona Community, an ecumenical movement of men and women, lay and ordained. It has been made more broadly available in response to the widespread desire to recover aspects of this tradition's way of seeing.

J. Philip Newell and his wife, Ali, were co-wardens of the lay religious community of Iona Abbey in the western Isles of Scotland. There Philip developed this book as an aid to daily prayer. Here is a weekly cycle of morning and evening prayers in the Celtic tradition, with gospel and psalm readings taken from the liturgical year.

Each "day" reflects a concern of the Iona Community:
justice and peace
healing
the goodness of creation and care for the earth
commitment to Christ
communion of heaven and earth
welcome and hospitality

The beautiful calligraphy sets a welcoming mood and contemplative pace to the prayers.Whether you pray from this book communally or in private, you are sure to be captured by the Celtic sense that God is present in creation, in the events of our lives, and in our hearts.

John Philip Newell is a Canadian teacher and author of spirituality based in Edinburgh. In 2011, he was honored with the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award by the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, D.C. He served as Warden of Iona Abbey in Scotland (1989-1992), Assistant Minister at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh (1992-95), Warden of Spirituality for the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth in the Church of England (1995-2000), and Scholar in Spirituality at St. Giles Cathedral (2000-2002). In 2002, he transitioned into full-time writing and itinerant teaching in cathedrals, universities, and retreat centers on both sides of the Atlantic. He is author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God (Paulist Press).+

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809104881
• ISBN13: 9780809104888
• Release Date: September 1997
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Daily devotionals

I like to have daily devotionals and these are particularly good for adding meditation to the scripture and prayers.

Deeply spiritual and open

I have other books by this author but this one is my favorite. I love the Celtic prayers. And this is more than just prayers but can be used for devotions at the beginning and end of the day. There are prayers and opportunities to read scriptures and to insert your own prayers of thanksgiving. There is also an invitation to be silent and listen to God.

Solid prayer resource

Philip Newell has collected (and streamlined) some of the great prayers from the Carmina Gaedelica and intertwined them with bits of Psalm 135, as well as daily gospel and psalm readings to create a really wonderful resource for personal prayer. I have used the book for more than a year in my own devotions, and still find newness and appeal in the selections Newell has made. As is true of the Iona Community, there is no avoidance of social justice, environmental awareness and a deep connection to the Spirit. The book is also beautifully designed in calligraphy.

Good guide for prayer discipline.

I've given away about a half dozen of these books. It is a wonderful way to establish and maintain a discipline of daily prayer. Psalm 139 ties the 12 portions (morning and evening of every day but Sunday) together. Each day corresponds to a theme valued by the Iona Community. The structure of each day is the same, but the prayers and focus are different. The prayers themselves are beautiful. Each day starts with a time of quiet meditation, thanksgiving, the Lord's Prayer, and a reading. I usually choose my own readings, but suggestions are made if you need them. There is also time for prayers of asking, and a closing prayer. You can spend as much time each day as you like. It is up to you. It is a guide, not a boss. I find that using this book daily has had a significant effect on my work and daily life.

Entering Into The Flow of Modern Monastic Celtic Life

This book spoke to my Irish heart and a view of Christianity gifted to me by three great-aunts. I was surprised to find thst their earthy familiarity with the Divine had a name and a long tradition. These daily prayers are based on the Celtic poem prayer, which rejoices in the Divine and Christ found reflected in all around us - from the lush countryside to that dandilion struggling to grow in the crack of the city pavement. The result of scholarship and the collection of oral faith tradition, it's lilting poetry praises God through his creation. It has become my morning and evening prayer ritual of reflection, scripture reading and prayer. And you don't have to be Irish to appreciate its richness

Handy daily morning and evening prayers, liturgical style

This is a beautiful prayer book of morning and evening personal liturgy based on Monday through Saturday. It includes a lectionary of psalms and readings for each day of the church year. A wonderful prayer book to use in your daily prayers. I'm giving one to each of the kids in my youth group who are going on pilgrimage to Iona. I highly recommend this book for anyone wishing to structure their prayer life.