Last week I shared a liturgy of personal devotion designed to help us put on the mind of Christ each morning. You can read that liturgy by clicking HERE (I have made some slight adjustments to it since it first came out). Today I would like to share a complementary practice meant for the end of the day. It is also about putting on the mind of Christ, though from a different perspective.
This practice uses the allegorical method to interpret the life of Ninian of Whithorn, the Apostle to the Picts. Lately I have been exploring the symbolism of animals in the lives of the Celtic saints, interpreting them as thoughts and emotions, not unlike the way the desert fathers used angels and demons as symbols for virtues and vices. I recently wrote an interpretation of a story about St Brigit and some wild ducks that uses this method as well. You can read that essay by clicking HERE.
In what follows I describe the same practice twice. First I explore the symbolism of the story and give some context for how I am interpreting it. This is useful to see how it all comes together but is impractical as a guide for doing the practice. At the end of the article I share a liturgy I wrote that includes the practice in the middle of it.
The version of the life of Ninian I am using was written by Aelred of Rievaulx. Aelred had a deep love of symbolism. His spiritual teachings often take the form of allegorical commentaries not unlike the one I have done here. I used Aelred’s own teaching as the basis of my interpretation so that it all fits together nicely.
In the following passage, Aelred describes Ninian as bestowing the episcopal (bishop’s) blessing on his community’s cattle (which I am interpreting as thoughts and emotions). An episcopal blessing is traditionally done at the end of a mass that has been presided over by a bishop. It is a holy consecration and a great honour to receive.
“It sometimes pleased the most holy Ninian to visit his flocks and the huts of his shepherds, wishing that the flocks, which he had gathered together for the use of the brethren, the poor and the pilgrims, should be partakers of the episcopal blessing. Therefore, all the animals being gathered into one place, when the servant of the Lord had looked upon them, he lifted up his hand and commended all that he had to the Divine protection. Going, therefore, round them all, and drawing as it were a little circle with the staff on which he leant, he enclosed the cattle, commanding that all within that space should that night remain under the protection of God.” (trans by Forbes)
A bishop is traditionally understood as an earthly representative of Christ, the word itself coming from the Greek epískopos meaning “overseer” or “protector.” The position from which Ninian blessed his cattle was a view from above. He assumed the role of a caretaker who is responsible for the health and well-being of an entire community. We can imitate Ninian by putting on the mind of Christ, thus assuming the role of the good shepherd who cares for her flock.
In his book Mirror of Charity, Aelred describes three kinds of love that we should cultivate: love of self, love of neighbour, and love of God. You can read more about that HERE. While talking about the way we love ourselves, Aelred describes the mind of Christ using the father of a household as his metaphor instead of a bishop.
“When a person withdraws from exterior commotion into the secret retreat of his mind and, once the gate is closed on the throng of noisy trifles around him, surveys his inward treasures he finds nothing disturbed, nothing disordered, nothing to torment or worry him, but rather, everything pleasant, everything harmonious, everything peaceful, everything tranquil. The entire throng of his thoughts, words, and deeds, like a very well-ordered and very peaceful family, will beam on his spirit like a father’s household.” (trans by Connor)
Taking the role of a bishop and putting on the mind of Christ, we are able to act as a loving parent towards all the thoughts and feelings inside us. The episcopal blessing brings peace and tranquillity to our inner family, so that nothing within us is disturbed or disordered. The mind of Christ stands above all the various parts of our soul, watching over them as their guardian and protector.
The way Ninian built and maintained the harmony of his flock was to gather everyone together, look upon them, bless them, and make a circle of protection around them. We can follow this same pattern as we bring all the various parts of ourselves into harmony with each other and with God. In the liturgy, this is called the litany of shepherding.
During a time of solitude and silence, close your eyes and enter into the prayer of recollection by gathering all your faculties and directing them towards yourself with love. Using your inner senses, look upon each part of your body one at a time and notice how it feels and what it needs. Using your breath and the words of your inner voice, bless each part as you come to it.
The words we say help to gather our intention and attention, both of which are essential to the art of blessing. First we breathe in the peace of Christ because that is the blessing we wish to bestow. Then we breathe that peace into every part of our being. Begin at the top of your head, moving downward. Bless your eyes so that they soften and invite your jaw to release its tight grip.
With each new breath move down your body bringing awareness and peace to your neck and shoulders, chest and back, arms and legs, fingers and toes, etc. In the description of this practice at the end of the article, not every body part is named so that you can fill in the rest on your own. Be sure to bless your entire body, including your butt.
After blessing your body, continue by blessing your thoughts and emotions. Focus on the ones that are present for you in the moment, then the ones that were present with you throughout the day. Begin with your emotions and move onto your thoughts afterwards.
If you felt joy, notice what thoughts accompanied that joy. If you felt anger, pay attention to what you were thinking at the time. Do not pass judgement on any of them, simply notice them and bless them. They are all welcome, no one is excluded.
After you have gathered, looked upon, and blessed all the various parts of yourself, it is time to draw a little circle around them, enclosing them within the protection of God. In the liturgy, this is called the lorica of encompassing. This circle creates a boundary between you and the world. Not an impenetrable barrier that locks you into a dungeon all alone, but a delineation distinguishing where you end and the world begins.
Encompassing your flock is about knowing where your home base is in relation to the wilderness. At times we need to explore the wilderness, otherwise we will never discover anything new, but we also want to know where home is so that we can retreat when needed and be safe within the circle.
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and earth, she drew a circle over the waters of chaos. This circle assigned a limit to the sea and marked out the foundations of the earth. In Proverbs, Wisdom tells us that she was there in the beginning, helping God create this sacred circle saying, ”When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.”
In making the caim, we participate in the circle of creation, establishing a safe space in which our own ongoing creation might unfold. Invite Wisdom into your circle so that she can minister to the animals you have gathered and keep them safe. Do not forsake her, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard your herd.
Ninian used his bishop’s staff to draw his sacred circle in the dirt. While this is a perfectly good way to do it, you can also make the circle with your mind’s eye, using the following prayer inspired by Job 26:10. “I make this circle on the face of the waters; at the boundary between light and darkness.”
Here is the liturgy I wrote that contains this spiritual exercise. The chants I have suggested come from my book Psalter of the Birds, you can get a copy by clicking HERE.
Introit: You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, under her wings you will find refuge, her faithfulness is a shield and defence. In the name of the Mother, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Chant #105
Opening Prayer: My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust, when I rest in your presence no harm will enter my house. For you send your angels to guard me, by their hands I am lifted up, together we soar on the wings of the wind. I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. She who keeps me will not slumber, she will not let my foot be moved, the one who keeps me will never rest. God of my heart, shepherd of my life, hold my house in your tender care, gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and let your grace fall upon them like rain. Amen
Chant #1
Scripture Reading: You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Litany of Shepherding
I breathe in the peace of Christ
I say a blessing upon my eyes…
I breathe in the peace of Christ
I say a blessing upon my jaw…
I breathe in the peace of Christ
I say a blessing upon my feelings…
I breathe in the peace of Christ
I say a blessing upon my thoughts…
Lorica of Encompassing: Great God of the elements, who shut the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb, who prescribed the boundaries restraining its proud waves, who stretched a line upon the foundations of the earth when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy, rekindle your grace within me, fill me with a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. With the mind of Christ, I set around me this night the vitality of creation, binding myself to the oneness of all things. The mighty horse with his beautiful mane, the wild bear with her children, the hawk soaring on his wings, the eagle’s nest high in the rocks, the face of the full moon, the storehouses of rain and snow, the path of the flashing lightning, the thundering voice of God, the springs of the sea, the gates of the deep darkness, and the dwelling place where light is distributed. In the name of the Trinity I draw a circle on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness. A circle to keep me and protect me, the circle of life, the circle of eternity.
Chant #117
Scripture Reading: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Chant #108
Doxology: Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people from this time on and forevermore.
Benediction: Our help is in the name of the Lord who has made heaven and earth. Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. The blessing, mercy, and grace of God Almighty, the Mother, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you. (Make the sign of the cross three times)
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