Celtic Spiritual Exercises

Three essential things

Three is a sacred number in the Celtic tradition, and often the saints expressed their own desires or commitments in terms of the number three.

St. Columba of Iona asked God for three things: virginity, wisdom, and pilgrimage. St. Ita of Killeedy focused on faith, simplicity, and generosity. Each is a variation on wisdom for the three essential things one must do in life.

None of the monks say the same three things, which open us up to the possibility that what is essential to one person will be different to another. Similarly in different seasons of life, what is essential for us might change.

In daily life

Reflect on the three things in your own life you count as most essential. Hold them as principles or touchstones for your life right now as you continue your spiritual journey. One way to do this is to imagine you are at the end of your life looking back. For what do you want to be remembered?

Scripture meditation

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

—Micah 6:8

God, Creator, for your glory shining forth in sky and sea, in the changing light on the hills, in the flight of birds, in the plants of the field for the gift of life in all its fullness, we thank you.

Jesus, Redeemer, for blessing children, healing the sick, raising up the lowly suffering the brokenness of the world in your own body that we might have fullness of life, we thank you.

Holy Spirit, Comforter, for breathing new hope and strength into our lives breaking down barriers drawing human beings together in love resisting all that diminishes fullness of life, 

we thank you.

Holy Trinity, in all that we do and say and are, may we always choose life, for ourselves, and for our neighbours. Amen.