This paper focused on the Celtic Christian Community and their mission. In the centuries BC, the northern neighbours of ancient Greece and Rome were known by the description KELTOI means that strangers or hidden ones. The word CEILT is ‘an act of concealing’ from which the word Kilt, the short male skirt of traditional Celtic dress comes and we all know what a kilt conceals under it! They were rural, tribal, always on the move people, as such they were different to the Roman church which identified with the dominant power of the cities. The Roman church was unsure how to respond to these people as they were relational rather than rational, inspirational rather than institutional. Ireland (unlike Britain and Gaul) was untouched by the Roman Empire, thus it was from Ireland that Celtic Christian community had its roots and passion and expansion. The primary missionary movement across Britain which became a hinge in history as much of Europe was evangelised e.g. Patrick to Ireland 432, Columba 560 Ireland to Iona, Aidan 635 to Lindisfarne. Columbanus 591 to France, Italy and so it goes on. There are ancient sites, crosses all across Europe of Irish and Northumbrian saints bearing witness to the mission. The Celtic Mission is life mission or community mission. In the Celtic Christian world every ‘church’ was monastic. So when we talk about the Celtic church it is synonymous with the monastery, with people living in Community. The monastery was a monastic school where the seeking of God was ‘the one thing necessary’ – the very foundation of life. A commitment to Mission, meaning ‘being sent or obedience to the task’ as connecting with people, community on the road, building relationships, exploring spirituality; living in the story and living out the story. For the Community it is engaging in mission out of a context of being in the monastery. Moving into the unknown as well as the known, wandering for the love of Christ. There life may involve pilgrimage and peregrinati in a physical sense and this is certainly part of celtic Christinity’s vision. Mission is a mixture of going, staying, moving on, doing, being, excitement, mundane in the home and market place. Finding God at work in the everyday ordinariness of life as it is. The Celtic Mission is spiritual mission. They love of nature. An awareness of the unity of creation. Columbanus ‘If you wish to understand the Creator, first understand His creation.’ They were aware of the Cross over Creation. That God was to redeem the whole created order. The Celtic Mission is contextualization mission. A deep love of the Scriptures as God’s memory book of relationships and encounter. To listening & learning from the Scriptures, with both the prayerful reading of Lectio divina and studied research of the Bible encouraged. They had a great love of learning but it was a yearning for wisdom not necessarily knowledge. They had a wonderful balance and were known as Saints and Scholars. They wanted to learn how to live, how to follow Jesus as Lord as a way of life. and they concern about combination with their community's life. The Celtics were vigorous, energetic, and passionate. The Celtic missionaries were committed to scripture, to challenge, and to loving those whom they sought to win. May this celtic tradition lead to similar mission today.

• 최종인(성결대학교, 선교학) | Jongin Choi