The "Celtic Thing"

from The Young Fogey:

It’s linked to the long-standing English tendency to use the ‘Celtic fringe’ as sort of foil or mirror for their own society, sentimentalising or demonising it in the process. In the 19th century the supposedly poor, lazy Celts were the antithesis of modern industrial England. Now the supposedly spiritual, nature-loving Celts are the antithesis of modern, industrial England. What’s changed is how the English perceive themselves.

Call me an old cynic if you like, but I suspect that quite a lot of our modern ‘Celtic stuff’ would be dismissed as sentimental rubbish or dangerous syncretism if we were to preach it to a congregation of 5th-century Christians.

And as Serge is quick to remind us: "St. Patrick actually prayed in Latin." Which would be perfectly proper, given the fact that he was a ROMANIZED Briton. Patrick is actually a perfectly good Latin name. It was the name of St. Augustine's father: Patricius