The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination - Softcover

'For once, we have something of the challenge and the toughness of the Celtic Christian world, not just a romantic glow; and the connections made with our own age and society give this book exceptional value.' -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury 'Superb ... I have read every word, slowly, carefully, enjoying, being nourished.' -- Madeleine L'Engle 'A rich tapestry of learning, personal experience of prayer, empathy with monastic endeavour and a real understanding of what inspiration is needed by so many in their journey of Christian prayer today.' -- Patrick Barry OSB, Abbot of Ampleforth

To recover our Celtic roots is to reclaim a forgotten heritage, one that will deepen our prayer and enlarge our vision. This book shows how the Celtic way of praying drew upon its pre-Christian past as well as on the fullness of the Gospel, and how it touched not only the mind but also the heart and the imagination. Drawing on material not easily available to the ordinary reader, Esther de Waal unlocks a treasury that will stratle with its power and originality. The reader is introduced to early Irish litanies, to medieval Welsh praise poems, to the wealth of blessings that come from the oral tradition to make praying a part of daily living. The book has been updated to include a new Introduction and a complete new chapter on healing for today's world.