In Celtic Saints and Animal Stories, Edward C. Sellner weaves together various known, and many less well-known, stories of animals in the hagiographies of the Celtic saints. His goal is to illuminate the relationships, what he terms a “spiritual kinship” between the saints and animals. Sellner's work will find an audience with those interested in theology and the Celtic saints in general. But it has a wider appeal to those interested in animals and spirituality. Written in a popular, rather than an academic, tone, it is full of enchanting stories of the lives of saints and animals to delight well beyond an academic audience.
This short work is divided into three sections: a comprehensive introduction, the stories of the saints, and a conclusion. The introduction situates the stories within the Celtic worldview and explores the ancient Celts’ connection with animals. Sellner introduces the reader to the world of mystics...
