What a wonderful Joy Lunch club on Wednesday, with music to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day provided by Shawn Whynott and Anthony Rissesco. As usual, the food and company were also great.
I was remembering, when Shawn was giving his excellent summary of the history of Saint Patrick’s Day, and some information about Saint Patrick, some of the information that I have learned over the years. Shawn said that Patrick is said to have “driven the snakes out of Ireland”, but added that many have pointed out that in fact, there were no snakes in Ireland. Afterwards I asked Shawn if he had seen the many memes that appear on social media this time of year, like this one:
What I have learned, was that the snakes were a derogatory term for Druids, and pagans in general. That’s what Saint Patrick drove out of Ireland.
I did a lot of research years ago into the struggle between the Celtic and the Roman Church in its early days. And, of course, the Roman church “won”. In John Philip Newell’s Listening for the Heartbeat of God, the author, a former Warden of Iona Abbey in Scotland, details that struggle, the conflict between two theologians, Pelagius and Augustine, and wonders how different the institution of the church might be if instead of one side exerting their will, beliefs and practices over the other, there had been more integration of the two.
Newell explains that the difference between the Celtic and Roman church can be seen in the depiction of daVinci’s Last Supper, where it is speculated that it is John the beloved disciple at Jesus’ immediate right, essentially listening for the heartbeat of God. In contrast, the Roman church is founded on Peter, seen to be the founder of the Roman Church.
Here is John Philip Newell explaining what it means to listen to the heartbeat of God in a short 5 minute video.
The discussion fits well with our theme “Everything in between” during this Lenten season, and also with this week’s story of Mary and Martha, found in Luke 10, and how we find “God in between” action and contemplation.
At this time of year I always remember fondly my father in law Frank Martin, who died in 2008. Frank was raised by his Irish speaking grandmother in Halifax when his mother, widowed with three young sons, had to work outside the home to support the family. He finally made it to Ireland once, when he went on a tour hosted by Tommy Makem. It was a lifelong dream of his, and the highlight was when he found his great-grandmother’s birth certificate in the parish records in the village of Lisdorgan.
Frank introduced me to Sister Fidelma. Sister Fidelma is the heroine of a series of mystery novels and short stories written by Peter Tremayne. Set in 7th Century Ireland, Fidelma is at the same time a lawyer, or dalaigh, who administers the ancient laws of Ireland, a member of a Celtic religious order, and sister to the High King. She is very often seconded to travel around the country, and sometimes beyond, to solve murders, usually in the company of her partner and eventual husband, Brother Eadulf, a Saxon.
I have learned a lot about ancient Ireland from reading the Sister Fidelma mysteries. The stories interweave historical information and political intrigue, issues of class and hierarchy, and offer insights into the struggles between the Celtic and Roman church at the time. For a few years I was hopelessly hooked on Sister Fidelma.
There are thirty six Sister Fidelma novels, and I think I have read around 27. I also discovered that there is an International Sister Fidelma Society, (http://www.sisterfidelma.com), with all kinds of fun facts, discussion groups, and information about the locations of some of the books. I imagine them all getting together, like at Star Trek conventions, in period costume, wild flowing red hair and long capes.
Sometimes I even imagine myself as Sister Fidelma ... riding around the countryside on horseback with long red hair and an enormous cape flying behind me, fighting for justice, challenging the hierarchy of the church in all its silliness. Very wise and insightful, yet sometimes hotheaded and quick to anger. Uncovering the truth slowly and methodically.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day folks!
