The Charism of the Holy Celtic Church International

From time to time enquirers and even sometimes members have difficulty in grasping the particular charism of the Holy Celtic Church International (with the Mar Thoma Liberal Catholic Church). This is perfectly understandable as in some ways our charism, since the re-foundation of the church in 2013, is still settling. It may also be noted that as it is a typically Celtic charism; a multi-faceted, diverse and flexible charism; a spiral dance of different strands of spirituality ever in motion and coming together in one holy mystery!

However, that may not make things much clearer, so we’ve come up with a symbol to illustrate where we are at. It is a symbol well known to artists and architects, priests and philosophers; the Vesica Pisces (bladder of the fish), the sign of two interlocking circles with a mandorla in the middle. It is also the symbol most associated with Avalonian spirituality, as it is found on the well cover of Chalice Well in Glastonbury, a holy place of both Celtic and monastic significance.

We are a "broad church" in that we allow for various different theological approaches and rites, however the influence of the Liberal Catholic Rite and Liberal Catholic tradition is pervasive throughout the church.  In addition, we also have several religious orders (Benedictine, Franciscan, Patrician, Brigidine and others) as well as the Holy Celtic Order of the Temple and its adjacent side-orders, which together offer a complete and extensive esoteric curriculum to the discerning seeker.
​

"A Personal Understanding of the HCCI Charism" by Revd Br James R. Bradtke OSBA

The Holy Celtic Church International is called to live and proclaim a whole and integrated Catholic faith, rooted in the ancient Celtic Christian vision, where heaven and earth meet and God is known as both transcendent mystery and immanent presence.

At the heart of our charism is Catholic wholeness—a living synthesis rather than a division—holding together what is often separated: Tradition and Scripture, reason and experience, the monastic and the pastoral, the mystical and the sacramental.
​

• A Faith Held in Sacred Balance

We stand within the historic Catholic Tradition, receiving the faith once delivered to the saints, honoring the sacraments, apostolic continuity, and the wisdom of the Church across the ages. This tradition is not static, but living—faithfully preserved while prayerfully discerned in each generation.

We are equally grounded in Holy Scripture, read prayerfully and communally, informed by monastic spirituality. Scripture is not merely studied, but inhabited—chanted, meditated upon, and embodied in daily life.

• Transcendence and Immanence

The Holy Celtic Church confesses God as wholly Other and intimately Near. We revere the majesty and holiness of God, while also proclaiming that creation itself is a thin place, radiant with divine presence. God is encountered in liturgy and silence, in study and service, in creation and community.

• Reason and Holy Wisdom

We affirm reason as a gift of God, welcoming theology, philosophy, and sacred esotericism as tools for deepening understanding. Faith seeks understanding, and mystery invites contemplation. Reason does not replace faith, but refines and protects it, guiding the Church toward wisdom rather than certainty alone.

• Experience and Lived Faith

We honor experience as a locus of grace, recognizing that God forms souls through prayer, pilgrimage, struggle, beauty, and community. Celtic spirituality reminds us that holiness is forged in daily faithfulness, hospitality, and reverence for creation.

• A Monastic Heart for the Whole Church

Shaped by monastic spirituality, our charism emphasizes rhythm, rule of life, stability, and prayerful discipline—whether lived in cloister or in the world. Every member is called to be a pilgrim monk of the heart, practicing ora et labora in their own vocation.

• A Catholic Spirit of Openness

Faithful to Catholicity in its truest sense—according to the whole—we embrace a generous orthodoxy that is rooted, discerning, and hospitable. We seek unity without uniformity, depth without rigidity, and fidelity without fear.

In summary, the charism of the Holy Celtic Church International is to be a living bridge:

• between ancient faith and present life
• between mystery and understandi
• between heaven and earth

So that Christ may be known, creation revered, and the Church renewed through a faith that is ancient, living, and whole.