Greetings from the Ancient East of Ireland!

View from St. Kevin's

Those monks that St. Patrick was responsible for--they built monasteries in which to do their work as scribes and priests, converting more of their fellow citizens. Ireland didn't have cities; these monasteries were their centers of civilization instead. 

In the sixth century, St. Kevin built a monastery in Glendalough (Glen of Two Lakes). We will visit the ruins of this site tomorrow. Not far from the monastery is St. Kevin's Catholic Church, a continuation of this ancient community. The current church was built in 1850 during the famine. It is within walking distance of our bed & breakfast.      

St. Kevin's Catholic Church

On its beautiful grounds are meditative walks that are mini-pilgrimages themselves- a Golgotha pathway, a labyrinth, and a wide or narrow pathway walk. And the scenery also focuses one's mind on the grandeur of God's creation. 

One of the signs on the walk has this good advice for pilgrims:

Going to Pilgrimage

Without change of heart

Brings little reward from God:

For it is by practicing virtue

And not by mere motion of the feet

That we are brought to heaven.

         Book of Lismore 8th Century

A good-hearted pilgrim