About Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs

Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs is a personal anthology of poems, songs, hymns, and music begun around 1995 as a kind of journal. The theme is very simple--celebration of my family, my grandparents and parents, my brothers, my husband and daughter, and an expression of gratitude to God for them, and for my Christian Faith and Irish heritage. Some are deeply sad while others are joyful. Some are prayers and others laments, or even protest against abuse. They are all born of love, of pain, of grief, and of profound Faith. The anthology will be complete when I return home...

Ancient Ghosts...some songs

...

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

CELTIC SOUL SONG


Our people were pagan until we met Christ. 

We recognized Him from the start. 

Never a martyr was made at our hands 

For Christ was in the Irish heart.  


And His message of Good News that God loved the world 

was something we always believed 

for we knew well God's Spirit in nature and life, 

and it showed in the circles we weaved. 


 We knew of the other world all around us

 such spiritual people were we 

who hungered so deeply for life and for love 

outraged it was nailed to a tree!  


As Conor MacNessa first led the way

 defending Christ unto his death, 

our people have faithfully recognized Him,

 calling Him with their last breath.  


But the old pagan ways and the gods that we knew 

continued along by Christ's side, 

called by a new name given by Rome. 

It is not from Christ that they hide,  

But from those who dare to speak in His Name, 

conquering culture and lore,

 proclaiming that Christ would have it that way, 

destroying all that came before.  


But free Celtic spirits knew that in Christ

 there is neither male nor female,

 and threatened the power that sought to control 

the mind, heart and soul of the Gael.  


And 'tho they have died for Christ through these years, 

their spirit submitted to Rome, 

their passion subdued by Jansenist lies

 invading their Faith and their home.  


'tho many a priestly priest came from our land 

and they had the power, we know. 

That power was Love, God's very own. 

(For others it just wasn't so.)  


For others the priesthood was not to serve God 

and not to bring Grace to the soul. 

With goodwill we trusted and honoured them all. 

Their power was meant to control.    


Yet still we are Irish and still our souls yearn

 for that spiritual part in our lives. 

Abused and afflicted, like Christ we were led, 

as children and husbands and wives.  


Obeying the laws, tho they were not our own

 but placed upon us from outside, 

we trusted their goodwill and trusted their vows 

until we discovered they lied. 


 We look deep within now still knowing the Love 

of that God who is greater than Rome,  

to the God of our people, the God of our clan, 

the God of our family and home. 


The misuse of power, that we trusted so,  

as quietly we bore our cross! 

Exposed now for what it was, treachery, sin! 

Our clear vision now is Rome’s loss. 


But surely it was not Christ who did wrong

 nor priests humbly serving our land, 

but those filled with lust of power over us.

 Satanical, clerical band!  


Our impulse toward God will guide us as we

 continue to seek the Divine. 

We’ll see God in nature, in people and song

 as clearly as in bread and wine.  


And the ancient soul friends who’ve never left us, 

who’ve always been here in our land

 Daghda and Bridget and from Tir na nOg

 with Jesus they walk hand in hand.   


Forget not our heritage and whence we came!

 And honour the heart of the Celt.

 We must be respected in Church as in home, 

For before Rome knew Christ, we knelt.  


‘twas never a time that we did not know God,  

regardless the titles we use. 

And we welcomed the Truth, whatever the form. 

The true God would never abuse! 


So we hold fast to God as we always have, 

as Pagan or Christian or Jew, 

and take back the power that we gave to Rome. 

Oh God, if only we knew....



c. Cáit Finnegan 1997


Saturday, March 29, 2014

WELCOME

WELCOME TO
"Ancient Ghosts and Green Heart Songs"
Songs of Family, Faith and Heritage
DIRECTORY BLOG PAGE


~  S c r o l l   D o w n   t o   c o n t i n u e  ~
This entire Collection is protected by
Copyright 1995, Cáit Finnegan
You can read these songs, hymns and poems, each on its own page
by clicking the title on sidebar named SONGS.
Music is added as possible in the music gadget above and on some pages,
 with more each day.

COMPLETE ALPHABETICAL LISTING 
ANAMCHARA
ANCIENT GHOSTS
ANGEL UNAWARE
ANIMAL GUIDES
BLESSINGS ON THIS CHILD
BRIDIN
BUIOCHAS LE DIA
CELTIC COMPLINE
CELTIC CONSECRATION
CELTIC GRACE
CELTIC OFFERTORY
CELTIC SOULS
CHAIN OF PAIN
CIARAN, A CHARA!
COUNTY WOODSIDE
DA
DANCE OF THE LORD
DAWN OF PEACE
DAYDREAMS
DINNER TO GO
DONE WITH ROME
EXILE'S PRAYER FOR PEACE
FATHER MICHAEL KEANE
GAN ANAM
GOD'S HOLY WOMAN
GOLDEN GIFTS
HOLY COMMUNION
HOLY INNOCENTS
HOME AGAIN
IN MEMORY OF YOU
IRELAND! MOTHER IRELAND!
I'VE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU
KITTY LITTER
LIMERICK TOWN
MARY OF THE GAELS
MARY OUR PRIESTESS
MOONLIGHT VISION
MORNING GLORY
MY AUNT'S NOT HOME
MY BEAUTIES
MY BROTHER
MY GIFT TO YOU
MY MOREDADDY
MY MOTHER, MY FRIEND
NOT IN VAIN, BOBBY SANDS
OUR OWN
PADDY DALY OF DUNGARVIN
PANGOR'S PREY
PARENTS LIKE YOU
PRIEST AND PROPHET
REFLECTIONS
ROISIN A STOR
SAMHAIN
SEASONS OF LIFE
SONG OF THE BIRDS
SUSCIPE
TEAMMATES
THE DAWNING OF CHRIST
THE IMMIGRANT BOOGIE MAN
THE KNOTWORK WE WEAVE
THE LONG ROAD HOME
THIS BREAD AND THIS WINE
TRESPASSES
TWO WEEKS AGO TODAY
VESTAL VIRGINS
WHEN AUTUMN LEAVES FALL
WITHOUT A SOUL
YOURSELF THE FOOL

Friday, March 28, 2014

"Ancient Ghosts"

Many years ago I prayed.  I asked my grandparents and ancestors to pray for me... to pray I could express what was in my heart, all that they had passed to me.  Suddenly, while still praying I began to sing this song.  The words and music just came and I had to jump from my chair to write them down and record the melody--before it escaped me.  Since that day the music has just flowed naturally.  I am very grateful.

I am encouraged by those all around me, those...

"Ancient Ghosts"

 Ancient ghosts who haunt my heart
 are with me night and day.
 We're never very far apart
I know their every way.
·          
 We're tied by bonds of flesh and blood
  'tho their flesh can't bee seen.
 They lie beneath the earth and mud
 'tho ancient king or queen.
·          
 The haunting that has taken place
  began within the womb.
 While I was in that sacred space,
 they called from grave and tomb:
·          
·          
"You are our seed and while you live
 not one of us shall die.
 With all the love you have to give
 you'll know the bonds that tie.
·          
For you are of the bardic race
 and song shall fill your soul,
 and God will shine upon your face
your music will console.
·          
 For ancient memories are in you
that others can't recall
 and Irish hearts you shall renew
 as once in Tara's hall.
·          
And as your heart is red with blood
 that races through your veins
 that heart is green and knows a flood
of passions, joys and pains.
·          
 Our people who have lived and died
 for ages until now
 have passed to you their shame and pride
 be humble then, and bow.
·          
 Rekindle in the Irish heart
at home or in exile
 that flame of love that had its start
 in ancient Erin's isle.

c. Cait Finnegan 


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