Patmos Abbey - the Order of St Columba
  • Welcome!
  • Order of St Columba -An Introduction
    • Our Story
    • Our Mission
    • Our Values
    • How does Abbey see Jesus of Nazareth?
  • Celtic Spirituality
    • A Concise History of the Celtic Way
    • A Litany of Celtic Saints
    • Ita - Nurtura of Saints -January 15
    • Brigid of Kildare - February 6
    • Patrick - apostle to Ireland - March 17
    • Egbert - April 24th
    • Venerable Bede - May 25
    • Columba of Iona - June 9
    • Kilian - the missionary - July 8th
    • Aidan of Lindisfarne - August 31
    • Ciaran - September 9th
    • Francis of Assisi - October 4th
    • Columbanus - November 23rd
    • Finian of Clonard - December 12th
    • What is the influence of the Celtic Christianity?
    • What is the relevance of Celtis Christianity in the 21st century?
    • Some features of Celtic Spirituality
    • Celtic Cross
  • The Abbey
    • Ways of Connecting
    • The Emerging expression of community
    • House communities and the Jesus Movement - a perspective
    • Monastic Virtues and Ecumenical Hopes
  • Mingary Online Oratory
    • Requests for Intercession
    • Light a Candle
    • 3 minute a day 'mini-breaks'
    • Reflect as you Go
    • Labyrinth Walk
    • Music and Chant Reflections
    • Daily Reflection "bread 4 life"
    • Lectio Divina - for each day
    • Daily Office
    • Remembering those we love...
    • Taize
    • Calendar
    • Plainchant
  • The Abbey Institute of Spiritual Direction and life-mentoring
    • Spiritual Direction >
      • 12 Steps recovery and Spiritual Direction
    • Prayers and Spirituality
    • Spirituality and Practice - the power of 12
    • Jewish Table Blessings
    • Solitude with God
    • Rituals and Blessings to help Family life
    • Prayers for Healing Painful Memories
    • Patrick of Ireland's Breastplate prayer
    • Celtic Blessings
    • Casting a caim or encircling prayer
    • The Jesus Prayer
    • Lectio Divina
    • Quiet Quest
    • How to meditate
    • Guided meditations...
    • Coping with Change
  • ColumCille House
  • Outreach - SmallSteps Project
    • Myphatso
  • The Christian Year
    • Lectionary Resources
    • Advent Prayers, Resources and Themes
    • Christmas - New Year >
      • A Celtic Christmas reflection
      • A Celtic New Year Blessing and Prayer
      • The Epiphany
    • Morning and Evening Prayer for Lent
    • Lenten resources
    • Holy Week and Easter
    • A Pentecost reflection
    • Some Pentecost prayers
  • The Four Gospels and Paul
    • Matthew
    • Mark
    • Luke
    • John
    • Paul of Tarsus
  • St Columba's School of Theology and Ministry
  • Monastery of the Heart Network
  • Abbey Blog - Guest Book
  • Suggested Reading
  • St Aidan's Bookstore
  • Links
  • Contact us...
  • Charter of Compassion
  • Centre for Loss and Life Transitions
  • The Lindisfarne Gospels
  • Book of Kells

 Ways of connecting

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Ways to position yourself:

When you become part of the Patmos Companions – the Order of St Columba, there are some areas which may relate to you: 
You are able:
1 Stay in Your Own Home     
2 Remain in Your Own Denomination
3 Discern and Shape your own way of service (with help)
4 Choose your Own Level of Commitment
 and you do all this in a supportive environment, with spiritual friends and advisors of your own choosing.

As you may see, the Order of St Columba is an association for men, women and couples who desire to pursue their journey as individuals in companionship.

Members live at home and might connect to a mainstream community of their choice.   Each person selects the appropriate ‘entry-point’ for them. It is more likely however that one's desire for disciplined commitment will grow, rather than diminish, and we are all encouraged to deepen our level of service .

Alternatively a person may choose to be a part of the journey  for a particular length of time, striving to become a kind of 'hidden' servant of those one meets following the ancient wisdom “After enlightenment, the marketplace".

If you feel something of this may work for, you may wish:
  • to consult wise  friends, or
  • you may wish to contact the Abbey,
  • you may wish to begin by taking part in the e-mail group, or
You are encouraged to look for:
  • a  companion - or soul friend - with whom you can speak about every aspect of your life
  • You will also need an ongoing Director from your own tradition  (or from the Abbey network, if you are exploring life in a particularly Celtic way already)

Where to begin:
      • Reflect...
      • Think it over. Make lists, pro and anti, ask yourself what is attracting you, and what that implies about your own vocation.
      • Find someone you trust, and ask them if they're willing to walk the  walk with you. Be sure that this is a wise and straightforward person, as well as being someone you like to be with.
      • Ask for guidance to send you the right Anam Cara - Soul-Friend for you. Then start looking, and asking  and researching right now. "When the pupil is ready the teacher appears."
      • It is probably a good idea to have access to a wise counsellor anyway. Especially if this person is sympathetic to the fundamental notion of a consecrated or dedicated way of life...
      • See what happens...!!
Feast of St Brigid, 2011


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