Caring for the Poor
Taking care of the poor has always been of central importance in Celtic Christianity. The Celts saw Christ as the champion of the poor and downtrodden.
Ray Simpson, writing in Exploring Celtic Spirituality, tells us that:
“Christ’s compassion for the poor began to be inscribed in the lives of members of the Celtic Christian communities. Their influence soon rubbed off on the Christians who farmed the lands around, as this poem illustrates:
Remember the poor when you look out on the fields you own,
on your plump cows grazing.
Remember the poor when you look into your barn,
at the abundance of your harvest.
Remember the poor when the wind howls and the rain falls,
as you sit warm and dry in your house.
Remember the poor when you eat fine meat and drink fine
ale at your fine carved table.
The cows have grass to eat, the rabbits have burrows for
shelter, the birds have warm nests.
But the poor have no food except when you feed them,
No shelter except your house when you welcome them,
no warmth except your glowing fire."
Many of the early Celtic saints like Patrick, Columba, Aidan, and Brigid, are renowned for their love and protection of the poor. Aiden, for instance is said to have kept no worldly possession for himself. When wealthy people gave him money he immediately gave it to the poor or used it to buy freedom for those who had been sold into slavery – many of who became Christian followers. Simpson tells the story about King Oswald, who invited Aiden to Northumbria. King Aiden shared Aiden’s heart for the poor. King Oswald was about to begin a banquet at his castle when he was told that a crowd was outside begging for food. “Oswald sent out the food from the table, and even had the large silver dish broken up to be shared among the poor people. Aiden was so impressed that he held up the King’s right hand and asked God that it might never perish. The arm was still preserved in Bamburgh church a hundred years later, a reminder to the people of the ideal of compassion to the poor.”
Through their compassion for the poor the Celtic Christians were able to bring about changes in the social conditions and laws.
Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you…” (John 12:8) and the poor are still very much with us today.
316 has worked with some of the local ministries to care for the poor through feeding and clothing the homeless, the downtrodden and the poor. It is our goal to increase our involvement in this area of ministry. The following Celtic Prayer and response sums up our heart:
Prayer
Christ of the compassionate heart:
Today, may your mercy reach the rejected
May your mercy reach the torn
May your mercy reach the addicted
May your mercy reach the worn.
Response
I will speak out for the poor and serve them as God directs.
