The lives of the Celtic saints constitute the largest body of hagiographies of any group in Christian history to have so many creature stories included in them, revealing early and medieval Irish as true lovers of animals with the saints sharing this quality to the full. While Native American and Hawaiian peoples, as well as certain Asian spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism, Zen Buddhism, and Taoism, have stories about animals, only the hagiographies of the Celtic saints have so many references to them as fellow-creatures. This sense of kinship was an intrinsic aspect of Celtic Christian spirituality that affected those living in Celtic lands, as well as the spirituality and theology of later saints, such as Hildegard of Bingen, Francis of Assisi, and Joan of Arc who were raised in geographical areas on the European Continent evangelized by Irish missionaries. Anyone who studies these hagiographies can discern not only what the saints did for animals, often protecting them from hunters, but also what the animals did for the saints. This pattern of reciprocity that transcends species-differences so that all benefit in the circle of life has a great deal to teach contemporaries about what can be called "a new spirituality of holiness."+

Celtic Saints and Animal Stories: A Spiritual Kinship

Biographies & Memoirs

Sellner, Edward C.

Leaders & Notable People

Paulist Press

Faithfully presenting the lives and legacies of twenty Celtic saints of the sixth to ninth centuries, Edward Sellner reveals their wisdom in a way that can be understood and appreciated by modern readers.

Wisdom of the Celtic Saints

Reference

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

Ave Maria Pr

At a time when many sons question their relationship with their fathers, and fathers wonder how best to be a parent to their sons, Sellner's memoir offers insights that will help heal present conflicts and wounded memories.

Father and Son: Time Lost, Love Recovered

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

"Anyone without a soul friend is like a body without a head," St. Brigit once said. What was true for Brigit in fifth century Ireland is all the more true for us in the complex and increasingly cynical world of the twenty-first century 
To be a soul friend, Edward Sellner reminds us, "is to provide a place of sanctuary to another where, through our acceptance, love, and hospitality, he or she can grow in wisdom, and both of us in depth." With deep personal conviction and with lively scholarship, Sellner describes the history of the anamchara or soul friend and the early Celtic Church out of which it arose. He leads us on a lively exploration of the ancient Druids and the early desert monks of Egypt, whose traditions and practices were the foundation of soul friendship. He shares with us the unique qualities of soul friendship in the lives of great saints like Ita and Brendan, Brigit and Patrick, and Ciaran and Kevin. And he offers a profound portrait of the Celtic spirituality out of which the anamchara emerged, a spirituality with a deep appreciation of nature, a respect for women's gifts and leadership, and a holistic perspective on the relationship of the mind and the body. The Celtic Soul Friend will be lively and informative reading for anyone interested in the rich tradition of spiritual direction and companionship, as well as the roots of mentoring and support groups. Sellner's description of Celtic spirituality offers a vision of Christianity that cuts across denominational and ethnic boundaries and speaks to the hearts of contemporary Christians of all backgrounds.

The Celtic Soul Friend: A Trusted Guide for Today

Religion & Spirituality

Guidance on Our Journeys: Sponsorship

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Addiction & Recovery

Hazelden

Bog Walk Books

Product Description From our earliest days, seekers from every great religious tradition have made pilgrimages—sacred journeys in the pursuit of wisdom, healing, guidance, and inspiration. In our contemporary society, more mobile now than ever before, pilgrimage is a popular vehicle for spiritual growth. Now this helpful guide has everything you need to make this practice your own. You’ll find perspectives that cross time and tradition, plus plenty of practical help, with historical perspective, inspiring stories, practical suggestions, and plenty of encouragement. You’ll learn about: —The history and practice of pilgrimage in many cultures —Ancient stories and traditions about pilgrimage —The stages of pilgrimage —The elements of pilgrimage and how to deepen your experience —How to make a pilgrimage doable —Famous pilgrims and significant holy places —Classic books and movies about pilgrimage About the Author Edward Sellner, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spirituality at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has worked as a chemical dependency counselor and consultant, including five years with Hazelden in Minnesota. Dr. Sellner holds his Doctorate in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He has authored numerous books including, Soul Making: The Telling of a Spiritual Journey, Wisdom of the Celtic Saints, Step 5: Telling My Story, and The Fifth Step: A Guide to Reconciliation.

Pilgrimage: Exploring A Great Spiritual Practice

Wipf and Stock

From our earliest days, seekers from every great religious tradition have made pilgrimages--sacred journeys in the pursuit of wisdom, healing, guidance, and inspiration. In our contemporary society, more mobile now than ever before, pilgrimage is a popular vehicle for spiritual growth.Now this helpful guide has everything you need to make this practice your own.You'll find perspectives that cross time and tradition, plus plenty of practical help, with historical perspective, inspiring stories, practical suggestions, and plenty of encouragement.You'll learn about:--The history and practice of pilgrimage in many cultures--Ancient stories and traditions about pilgrimage--The stages of pilgrimage--The elements of pilgrimage and how to deepen your experience--How to make a pilgrimage doable--Famous pilgrims and significant holy places--Classic books and movies about pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

Wipf & Stock Publishers

Our Dog Red

Review\n"A beautiful book. No one could fail to be moved by this intensely personal, deeply compassionate work, full of pathos and joy."\n--Andrew Linzey, Director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics\n"Red is a story many of us who love dogs will deeply relate to and find inspiration in. Ed Sellner explores the beautiful geography of our intimacy with companion animals and the graces they offer to us with loving attention. Read this book to fall even more in love with the gifts animals can bring to our lives."\n--Christine Valters Paintner, author of The Soul's Slow Ripening\n"Dog lovers! Animal lovers! We all see and experience the Divine spark in the animals that share our lives. . . . Ed Sellner captures the profound lifelong effect on his heart and soul that his dog, Red, has left. He shares a true Celtic Christian experience of the Divine, one which can only be known through a sensitive relationship with animals."\n--Cait Finnegan, Celtic Christian Church\n"With clarity and insight Ed Sellner weaves threads of theological and personal reflections for those facing the loss and grief of a beloved pet. . . . The reverence and awe offered through the stories and wisdom of this book provide a notable source of healing and spiritual guidance."\n--Terry Shaughnessy, Spiritual Director and Retreat Director\n"This is a beautiful book--and a book that teaches us why beauty is holy. Grounded in both the simple beauty of the life of a good dog and the overflowing riches of the Christian tradition, Our Dog Red illuminates the true and central place of animals in our pursuit of a deeper understanding of the mysteries of suffering and love in God's beautiful, beloved creation."\n--Colleen Mary Carpenter, St. Catherine University\nEveryone who has lost a beloved pet knows the deep grief and heartbreak a death can cause, often raising questions about the meaning of such a loss, whether there is an afterlife for pets, and sometimes why God would take such a dear member of the family so soon. This book is the story of a father and son, Ed and Daniel, whose pet, Red, died on Good Friday in the week Christians call “Holy.” It shows how Red’s death drew them even closer while also leading each of them into new awarenesses. The timing of that death also raised serious questions for Ed, a pastoral theologian, which he had not faced before: do animals have souls? What sort of God is it that we Christians believe in? What was one to learn from the synchronicity of Red dying on Good Friday? As a result of his grief and the questions it raised, Ed found himself being led to teaching new courses in ethics, art, and spirituality concerned with animals, and a new field specifically called “animal theology.” This memoir is written for those concerned with the death of their beloved pets. It discusses practices and rituals helpful in dealing with grief which can contribute to healing.

Our Dog Red: A Small Token of Remembrance

Christian Books & Bibles

Resource Publications

Everyone who has lost a beloved pet knows the deep grief and heartbreak a death can cause, often raising questions about the meaning of such a loss, whether there is an afterlife for pets, and sometimes why God would take such a dear member of the family so soon. This book is the story of a father and son, Ed and Daniel, whose pet, Red, died on Good Friday in the week Christians call "Holy." It shows how Red's death drew them even closer while also leading each of them into new awarenesses. The timing of that death also raised serious questions for Ed, a pastoral theologian, which he had not faced before: do animals have souls? What sort of God is it that we Christians believe in? What was one to learn from the synchronicity of Red dying on Good Friday? As a result of his grief and the questions it raised, Ed found himself being led to teaching new courses in ethics, art, and spirituality concerned with animals, and a new field specifically called "animal theology." This memoir is written for those concerned with the death of their beloved pets. It discusses practices and rituals helpful in dealing with grief which can contribute to healing.

Resource Publications (CA)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sellner, Edward C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sellner, Edward C.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sellner, Edward C.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Celtic Saints and Animal Stories: A Spiritual Kinship

Wisdom of the Celtic Saints

Father and Son: Time Lost, Love Recovered

The Celtic Soul Friend: A Trusted Guide for Today

Guidance on Our Journeys: Sponsorship

Wisdom of the Celtic Saints

Pilgrimage: Exploring A Great Spiritual Practice

Pilgrimage

Our Dog Red: A Small Token of Remembrance

Our Dog Red