Radical Hospitality in Honor of St. Brigid

On the Feast Day of St. Brigid (February 1), I and other guests were treated to radical hospitality by our hosts.  This is fitting since Brigid, patron saint of Ireland, exemplified the gift of hospitality.

Brigid and other Celtic Christians equated offering hospitality to receiving Christ into their midst and fulfilling the law of love.   As a child, Brigid often gave away her parents' possessions.  At Kildare, the monastery she founded and led, she often made butter for visitors.

In the spirit of Brigid, our hosts invited us into their warm, lovely home, nestled deep in the woods and treated us to a dinner of lamb and delectable homemade food, including bread and butter, all lovingly prepared and served with Brigid in mind. God encircled all of us in love as we broke bread together.

What was most remarkable about our dinner party, for me, is the way prayer took center stage.

Our evening began as most dinner parties do with excited conversation over luscious appetizers and wine. However, when our host asked if we'd like to make a St. Brigid cross to take home with us, we got our first inkling that this was not going to be an ordinary dinner party.  With instructions from our host, we each made a St. Brigid cross from pipe cleaners to take home.    

Then the prayers begin.  Our host had thoughtfully typed them and put them into a beautiful booklet which he presented to each of us.  Our first prayer asked God to unite us as we prayed in unison three times.  Then we lit a candle and went to the back door and opened it as we said goodbye to the season of Samhain (winter). Together we prayed a beautiful prayer in gratitude for the season of deep memory (winter).  "Go with thanks and go with blessing."

Then we walked to the threshold of the front door and opened the door.  There we prayed in welcome of spring.  "In cold and darkness, you are traveling; in warmth and brightness you will arrive.  May the blessed time of Imbolc (spring) kindle the soul of all beings."

Casting the Cairn

Then we gathered at the dining table and "cast the cairn," a technique used by Celtic Christians of old in drawing an invisible circle around us.  We asked God to encircle us with hope, protection, peace, and light.

Reader:  Encircle us, Lord
All:         Keep hope within, Keep doubt without
Reader:  Encircle us, Lord
All:         Keep peace within, Keep evil out

Prayer for Coming of Spring 

There were beautiful prayers rejoicing in the promise of Spring.

"For the lengthening days and sunlight's warmth upon the soil, we rejoice in the promise of Spring.

For the cycle of life which brings death and rebirth, we rejoice in the promise of Spring."

Our evening ended with this benediction:

Leader:  As we receive the blessing of this feast with thanks
All:         So, too, may we be a blessing to others.

My heart rejoices that our dinner party was more than good fellowship.  It was a spiritual celebration.  Why shouldn't Christian people come together in each other's homes to celebrate God's goodness and to remember saints of old?  Why shouldn't prayer be central to our gatherings?

Because St. Brigid was so honored in our celebration, the Holy Spirit encircled us in love and joy.   It was a radical celebration of all that is good and true and lovely!  

A Celtic Blessing:

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining starts to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
               Amen.