Join me today as we welcome retired Episcopal rectorand pilgrimage leader Robin T. Jennings for part one of our discussion about the soul, to talk about his book, Expressions of the Soul: Celtic Christianity and Life with God. Robin shares how a chaplain’s question led him fromwork at a Chicago boys’ home to seminary, and how later travel and leading pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland, and Iona sparked his interest in Celtic Christianity, monastic life, and the gifts of the Celtic spiritual giants, like St. Columba. We focus on recovering attention to the soul—oftenneglected part of who we are compared to the mind and heart—drawing on scriptures such as “He restores my soul” and Jesus’ command to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Robin describes the soul as the “conductor,” serving asa gateway to our mind, heart, and will to enter into a loving relationship with God and our neighbor, and highlights the presence of God we experience through the Celtic practices of worshipping God in nature, anam cara (soul friendship),community, and the gifts of the Celtic saints. I think you’ll love this conversation, divinely dropping on St. Patrick’s Day! ___ Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Expressions of the Soul: Celtic Christianity and Our Life with God (Robin T. Jennings) explores Celtic Christianity as a way to recover attention to the soul as the center of personal encounter with God, including themes like nature as a place of God’s presence, pilgrimage, hospitality, and “soul friendship”(anam cara). How the Irish Saved Civilization (Thomas Cahill) describes the role of Irish/Celtic monastic communities in preserving scripture, manuscripts, learning, and elements of civilization during and after Rome’s decline. Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom (John O’Donohue) centers on the Celtic idea of anam cara (“soul friend”) and the importance of relationships that attend to the inner life. Saint Patrick: The Confession of Saint Patrick and Letter to Coroticus, translated by John SkinnerJourney with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton. Take the next step in your spiritual formation and embark on a year-long journey alongside a “giant” of faith, inspired by the author’s year of studying the life of Mister Fred Rogers, America’s favorite neighbor.
