J Philip Newell – författare

Newell explores the way Celtic spirituality is characterised by listening for God within ourselves, others and the whole of creation. He illustrates his book with writings such as the Carmina Gadelica, a collection of traditional folk poetry.

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 peacehealingthe goodness of creation and care for the earthcommitment to Christcommunion of heaven and earthwelcome and hospitalityThe 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).†

Following the pattern of his bestselling Celtic Benediction, Philip Newell provides lyrically beautiful and profoundly theological prayers for morning and evening for each day of the week. Each begins with a Beatitude and is followed by a Prayer of Awareness, Scripture readings for meditation, a Prayer for the Life of the World and a Prayer of Blessing. It is richly illustrated throughout. Their theme could hardly be more critical. Divisions between Jews, Christians and Muslims are at the centre of much of the world's most serious places of conflict. Yet all three share the same spiritual descent from the household of Abraham. Praying With the Earth articulates the longings for peace that are closer to the heart of the world's spiritual traditions than their divisions. Morning and evening we open ourselves to the wisdom of our inherited Scriptures, to be enriched by others' understanding of the one God whom we call by different names, and especially to pray for peace.

This profound and challenging book clears away centuries of misunderstanding, confusion and shame about the human body. Jewish and Celtic Christian insights help us discover its sacredness and transform our assumptions about love, beauty and sexuality.

For many Christians, the world equates with "worldliness" and it is to be avoided for fear of damage to their spiritual health. Celtic Christianity differs from this in that it sees in all creation the reflection of God's goodness and beauty which sin might mar, but can never destroy. This book explores the Celtic view of creation and each chapter focuses on an aspect of God revealed in creation to transform our view of created matter.

The Celtic spiritual tradition is marked by the belief that what is deepest in us, beyond the distortions of ignorance or wrongdoing, is the image of God. Its second major characteristic is a trust in the essential goodness of creation, which it regards as a revelation of God, thus avoiding the pitfall of separating spirit and matter. The simple prayers of "Each Day & Each Night" are the new expressions of the old worlds and imagery of Carmichael's collection. It is hoped that they will help us realise anew that the life of heaven is inseparably woven into the life of earth.