17 january: st. anthony of the desert with snow

with what carl jung calls synchronicity, i have been reading j. philip newell's listening to the heartbeat of god these days between the commemorations of sts. paul of thebes and anthony of the desert.

anthony was noted for not having any books in his hermitage. most of the monks at least had a psalter, with the gospels a close second choice. anthony most probably knew the psalms by heart, but when he was asked about the lack of scrolls on his window sill, he said simply that for one who has eyes the holy one is revealed in all his creation.

newell's book explores this theme in celtic spirituality, tracing its birth in the traditional understandings of the celts, its suppression under the augustinianism of the roman mission in britain beginning in the seventh century, and re-emerging in the last several centuries, even within the calvinistic church of scotland, especially under the influence of george macleod.

and so it was with great if cold joy that i looked out of my little hut this morning on the snow, calling to mind psalm 148:

Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
He healeth those that are broken in heart *
and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
He telleth the number of the stars *
and calleth them all by their names.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
The Lord setteth up the meek *
and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth *
and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
and put their trust in his mercy.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
praise thy God, O Sion.
For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
and hath blessed thy children within thee.
He maketh peace in thy borders *
and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
and his word runneth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool *
and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
who is able to abide his frost?
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.