11/24/2025
Celtic spirituality exudes a sense of joyful gratitude that is often absent from our lives. Gratitude is one of the key Celtic virtues. It recognizes that we stand on the shoulders of others. Life, for the ancient Celts, wasn’t always easy, but they trusted in the ultimate source of all gifts that grace every season of life. They lived in “radical amazement” as they pondered sea and stars. They saw spirit enlivening trees, oceans, animals, and our daily paths, where every soul is the anam cara who shows us our vocations and affirms our value in the earthly realms. In the rough and tumble life of early Celts, each comfort was a blessing and every action merited a blessing, whether milking the cow, building a fire, traveling to a distant place, or cooking a meal. Gratitude opens the future and gives us hope in turbulent times. When we are thankful, we trust that even in the wilderness, there is a wellspring of living waters and bread for the journey.