Unto the Glory of God the Most Holy, Consubstantial, and Undivided Trinity:
God the Father, Unbegotten; God the Son, Only begotten; and God the Holy Spirit from the Father Proceeding:
An Arrangement of the Rule of Saint Maelrúain
Arranged by subject and explained.
Additions are primarily from other writings of St. Maelrúain and related documents.
This is the Rule approved for the use of Céli Dé.
This is a short Rule intended to provide a basis for a way of life for Céli Dé.
It is not applied to non-Céli Dé. I. God in all things:

A. The Céli Dé are celibate or married men and women. All Céli Dé are Baptized and Confirmed, practicing Orthodox Christians. Full participation in the Sacraments is necessary to sustain us in this world.
1. One is to Fast from all food and drink before Holy Communion beginning with Midnight. No alcoholic drinks may be taken from the day before until after Communion, unless it be the Lord's Blood at Communion.
a. One who needs to take medicine or water due to chronic illness does not break the Fast before Holy Communion if these are taken, but their soul-friend (father Confessor) must be informed of this need. (See the rules of Fasting.)
2. "He that has not attended Mass on Sunday must recite fifty [Psalms], standing, in a closed house, with his eyes signed with the Cross: this is the price he pays for the Mass. A hundred genuflections and a Cross-Vigil, discharge his obligation."
a. The Mass must be attended on Sundays even if one does not partake of Holy Communion. As stated in the Canons, unless one is under special dispensation, such as a monastic solitary,  one who absents themselves from Mass for three consecutive Sundays is considered excommunicated and must be reconciled to the Church by Confession and penance. Fasting, charity, Confession, and Hours may not be neglected.
b. Those living where there is no Orthodox Priest to celebrate the Mass must do everything in their power to build a Church and provide wages for a Priest. Otherwise they must relocate to a location where they can attend an Orthodox Mass of either the "Western" or "Eastern" Rite. Those unable to fulfill this must have their cases examined individually.
c. Those on "vacation" or "holiday" must attend a Mass or Divine Liturgy on Sunday in an church where they are visiting; in this way Churches may be supported, and the holiday will be blessed with prayer and charity. It is best of all to make pilgrimages as part of a holiday.
d. A Priest or Bishop may bring all necessary materials and celebrate a Mass while traveling, if there are others to attend the Mass with him.
3. While this practice is not applied to those in a parish, or those visiting a Community, a Céle Dé enters into Communion with, and joins a Community with caution: "He that goes for the first time to midnight Mass [on Easter Eve] receives only the Bread and not the Cup, and he does not go again until the end of the year: He goes again to midnight Mass the year after, and receives the Bread of Easter on the morrow. The third time, he goes to midnight Mass and receives the Bread at Easter and on Christmas Day. The fourth time, he goes at Christmas and at the two Easters and at Pentecost. In the fifth year, he goes at the high festivals, and also after every forty nights. In the sixth year at the end of each month. In the seventh year, at the end of every fortnight. After seven years, he goes every Sunday." This is still normal practice among some of the Communities of Mount Athos.
4. "When anyone fails to go to Communion on a Sunday, [after having done penance for the price of the Mass of the Sunday], he goes on the Thursday following, because to wait until the next Sunday would be too long a delay for one who goes to Communion regularly every Sunday: for these two days are always specially observed by them for attending Mass."
a. A daughter of the Church who is ill due to her monthly sickness is excused from attendance of Mass and Hours without penance and is to be attended during that time, including meals served to her. (See the discussion in the Rule Pray Constantly.) If the rule of St. Gregory the Great and St. Augustine of Canterbury is followed, she is not excused from any Hours or labors at that time, and she is not attended.
b. Anyone who is seriously ill is excused from attendance of Mass without penance and is to be attended during that time.
B. Study of the Faith is a great offering. If any dedicate themselves or their children to it, it is a great offering to God: "If any one therefore shall offer the tithe [of the fruits] of his body to God for the purpose of study, it will be the same as if he renovated the churches of Erin [or this Land] and restored its belief after it had vanished. Whereas is any one withdraws his child from study after offering him to God and to Patrick, it is as if he should revoke the offerings of the whole world and violate the Church of Heaven and earth."
1. Study includes attendance at regular catechism classes. Although the Church does not refuse Sacraments to a young child or infant, all children must be taught the Faith. Parents, godparents, and the religion teachers must not allow children to miss these classes unless the children are ill, or unless there is a very good reason, such as a Baptism, Wedding, Wake, etc., and permission is obtained.
2. Parishes usually offer catechism classes once a week during the school year. A more intensive schedule is expected of boys who serve at the Altar, and for those seeking to take religious vows. Attendance must be taken at all religious classes.
C. Pray to the Holy Trinity for aid in overcoming deficiencies before beginning any labor.
1. Every person must labor, and their labor must include charity, because charity is a sign of the Holy Spirit. (See labor under the Rule, By Their Fruits Ye Will Know Them.)
D. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth before any discussion. The prayer need not be aloud.
F. "Privies and urinals are abodes for evil spirits. The sign of the Cross should be made over these places, and a man should cross himself when he enters them, and its is not lawful to pray in them, except to repeat. 'O God come to my assistance; O Lord make haste to help me'" (House blessings never include the bathroom.)

II. Pray Constantly

A. Concerning the Daily Office
1. The Hours are to be read as provided in A Celtic Breviary.
2. The Cross Vigil/Shrine of Piety must begin the day either as part of Matins or as given in the Celtic Breviary. "The Our Father and 'O God come to my assistance; O Lord make haste to help me' are recited first facing east, with both hands raised to heaven and making the sign of the Cross with thy right hand: then thus similarly facing each quarter, downward and upward. This they call the Shrine of Piety; but first a Cross-Vigil is made, and the name of this is the Corslet of Devotion."
3. "When the Psalms are recited, one division is said standing and the next sitting, because when they remain seated, it begets sleep: while if they remain too long standing, it is wearisome."
4. Those in secular professions are bound to a minimum Rule of the Cross Vigil and the Day Hours (Second through Vespers). More may be done, and is encouraged.
5. All in Communities are bound to all Hours save Beginning of Night and Midnight. All must attend Matins and the others Hours to which they are bound in Chapel. Beginning of night and Midnight are not neglected, but are only required of those assigned to those services for that day. The readings of the Beginning of Night should be read by all in their cells, if not in Chapel. "With the Céli Dé it is not the practice to sleep in the oratory. Their practice is that two of them should remain in the oratory until Midnight, and recite the hundred and fifty Psalms: they dine at Nones and sleep until night, and sleep [again] from Midnight till Matins. Two others then remain from Midnight till Matins, and they also recite the hundred and fifty Psalms, and then sleep until Terce and say the office of Terce in company with all the brethren."
a. "When a chief festival falls on a Saturday, if it be outside Lent, the evening vigil is excused. If, however, it comes on a Wednesday or Friday or Monday, the indulgence is transferred to Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday."
b. "During the monthly sickness of daughters of the Church, they are excused from Hours, morning and evening, so long as it lasts, and gruel is to made for them at Terce, at what ever time this happens, because it is right that this sickness should have attention. They do not attend Communion in such case, for they are unclean at these times." This rule is also found in councils of the East. Further, at such time, daughters of the church are excused from all obligations and duties, including journeys, and labors. No penance is expected for this dispensation. Others are to be assigned to prepare food for them, even when those others are required to fast. Saint Gregory the Great allowed Communion to our daughters, but granted no relief from their duties at the time of their monthly sickness.
6. Recitation of all 150 Psalms followed by the nine of the Biblical Canticles is strongly advised for Céli Dé living in a Community as personal daily prayer apart from the Hours of the Community.
a. "Twelve repetitions of the Beati (Psalm 118) are a substitute for the hundred and fifty Psalms."
B. Cross Vigils per Breviary.
1. "The Our Father and 'O God come to my assistance; O Lord make haste to help me' are recited first facing east, with both hands raised to heaven and making the sign of the Cross with thy right hand: then thus similarly facing each quarter, downward and upward. This they call the Shrine of Piety; but first a Cross-Vigil is made, and the name of this is the Corslet of Devotion."
C. "When intercession is made for any one [living or dead] at the celebration of Vespers, his Baptismal name is used."
1. "There is nothing that a man does on behalf of the soul of one who dies that does not help it, whether vigil or abstinence, or requiem or frequent benediction. Sons ought to do penance for their dead parents. Maedoc of Ferns and all his community spent a full year on bread and water in order to gain the release of the soul of Brandub mac Echach from hell." For a Christian, life is eternal, and we continue to pray to God for each other.

III. Confess to one another

A. "It is the duty of any one in Orders who undertakes the charge of a church to hear the confessions of that church's tenants, men, boys, women and girls. If any one will not accept the yoke of a confessor, so that his is not under the authority of God or of man, he has not claim to be given Communion, nor to have intercession made for him, nor to be buried in God's church because he has refused to be under God's authority in the churches in the land or Erin [or this Land]. For it is right to show reverence to an ordained Priest, and to fulfill their behests, just as if they were God's angels among men; seeing that it is through them that the kingdom of Heaven is to be won, by means of Baptism and Communion and intercession, and by the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, and by preaching of the Gospel and by building up the Church of God, and by unity of law and rule; and this is what is pleasing to God on earth."
1. "Irksome, truly, is the matter of soul-friendship, because if the proper remedy is prescribed, it is more often violated than fulfilled: while if the soul-friend does not prescribe it, liability falls upon him; for there are many who deem it sufficient to make confession without doing penance. So it is better for the soul-friend, a father confessor to admonish them of what is profitable for them, even though he does not demand confessions."
2. "It is proper to refuse the confession of one who does not perform the penance imposed by his soul-friend. If any one does not happen to find nearby a soul-friend whom he considers sufficient [that is, one learned in the rules of conduct laid down in Scripture and in the Rules of the Saints], and if the precepts he brings from the learned soul-friend whom he first met are observed, and if there be moreover some one to whom he may make confessions on each point, and if penance be done thereafter according to the rules of minor confession, it is no matter to whom his confession is made, even though it be to a student or to a young cleric."
a. For the Absolution which is part of major confession, one must confess to a Priest or Bishop.
B. Sin is disobedience. (From an Irish Penitential contemporary with our Father Saint Maelrúain):
1. From gluttony comes immoderate joy, excess of talking, wanton folly, lewdness of thought, impurity of mind, despair, drinking without stint, unbridled drunkenness.
2. Luxury kills thought of learning or piety or wisdom. From luxury: filthiness of words, shameless scurrility, blindness of mind, fickleness of nature, rude discourse, relapse into ruin, multiplicity of counsels, promising without performance, promiscuous concupiscence, care for man, neglect of God.
3. Avarice gives up nothing that is cast into it. "From this root grows all the vices, and on its account are most souls of the human race brought to Hell. For its sake the son kills his father and mother: for its sake men suffer red martyrdom and white martyrdom and green martyrdom, even slaying and burning and drowning. For its sake men go to Hell with its pains, and desert the kingdom of Heaven with its rewards." From avarice: desire without measure, corruption with despair, raidings without ceasing, robbing without mercy, falsehood without control, perjury without restraint, derision of every good thing, pleasure in every evil thing, blindness of mind, denying of nature, oppression of the wretched, incitement of the strong, covetousness of earthly things, deceit concerning the soul.
4. Envy caused Cain to kill Abel son of Adam, and Christ to be killed. "Anyone in whom is the nature of envy and malice, there is no dwelling for God in his heart, and so there will be no dwelling for him with God in Heaven." From envy: hate of one's neighbor, murmuring at every good thing, thanksgiving for every evil thing, backbiting of friends, chagrin at their winning honor, joy over their loss of esteem.
5. Anger pierces the soul and causes its death. From anger: man-slaying without humanity, persecution of one's neighbors without mercy, conceit of mind without abasement, haughty speech without subordination, contentiousness without end, accusations without compassion, reproaches without reflection, contumely without restraint.
6. Despair and lack of faith is not "The sadness which causes the soul's joy in Heaven... which comes of lamenting over sins, with faith in forgiveness, and that which comes of pitying every strong man and every miserable man and every neighbor of ours who is in the power of sin and vice so that he falls into vileness and misery, without faith, without penitence. For he who deplores his own sins and his neighbor's sins shall be joyful with God in Heaven. But of worldly sadness there are three forms. The first is sadness and grief at parting with carnal friends for loss of their human affection, and for love and attachment to them; or because of parting with one's guilt and sins and fleshly lusts. Again, the second form of worldly sadness is the grief and despair that arise from every desire that a man desires, because he cannot satisfy it, save only the will of God. The third form of worldly sadness again is the grief and despair which arise from every good thing a man gets, through fear of its being taken away from him, and of its perishing, and through fear of parting with it, even later on, so that he is never free from grief and sadness while he lives, and he goes thereafter to find eternal grief, to everlasting torment without end." From worldly sadness: bitterness with malice, lovelessness with insolence, miserliness with gain-getting, much talking after silence, idle volatility without thrift, unsteadiness of nature, restlessness of body, wandering of mind towards everything base, readiness to engage in everything evil, sluggishness and slackness towards everything good, despair along with inattention to the commands of God, joy and vigor in doing the works of the Devil."
7. Vain glory, "whatever we do for the sake of pomp or praise from men." From vain glory: disobedience with contumacy, pride with arrogance, readiness for strife, a guise of simulation, upholding of heresy unlawfully, boasting of one's good deeds, pompousness of speech, disguising of appearance, exaltation of the body, debasing of the soul.
C. Restoration from sin requires repentance and obedience. All Céli Dé are obedient to their Superiors whether Abbot or Abbess. Each Céle Dé is to find a soul-friend approved by his Superior in the Order and to obey his direction. The word "repentance" means to make repair or restoration, not just to have sorrow. As none lives that does not sin, all Christians must go to the Sacrament of Confession often.
1. "Recourse may be had, if necessary, to another soul-friend, on obtaining leave from the original soul-friend."
2. "He that makes confession to a soul-friend, if he does penance as he directs, need not confess to another soul-friend, excepting such sins as he may subsequently commit."
3. The Soul Friend may inquire concerning specific sins based on knowledge of a the person and their profession. As our Father Saint Maelrúain said: "It is usual to lay additional penance on cooks and milkers and scullions on account of spilling the produce, both milk and corn."
4. "Further, it is not necessary to put off minor confessions of evil thoughts and faults of idleness and bitter words and anger and so forth until Sunday, but they should be confessed immediately as they are committed."
5. "Frequent confession, however, does not profit, if the transgression be also frequent."
6. Obedience, even when the possibility of personal discomfort through castigation by blows is present, is  imitation of the Confessors and a path to salvation.  However, castigation by blows has not been administered since the revival of the Rule.  Castigation by blows was a serious matter and was imposed only in case of serious sin as in cases of abuse of authority or false-swearing.  It was never to be self administered. Neither was it to be imposed nor administered in anger.
a."Castigation is only permitted between Epiphany [and Easter, but not on Holy and Great Friday], and between Low Sunday and Christmas Day following. A castigation of a Sunday evening is administered on Saturday at the hour of Nones." Castigation is administered after Sext on all other days save Sunday and again at Nones on Saturday in place of that which would be for Sunday.
b. Abuse of subordinates incurs a special penance, "If thou art angry with a servant, and there was no cursing and abuse, thou must first receive a hundred blows on the hands, and [also] pass that night on bread and water."
c. "For swearing falsely, the penance he assigns is castigation at the first offense; for the second, a diet of bread and water; for the third, a fast without any sort of food. For further offenses, he assigns the same penance to false oaths as to monks who are excommunicated."
7. It is suggested that penitents, those under long-term penance and excommunication for severe sins, retire to a community or live near a community, so that they might fast and pray under constant supervision during their prolonged struggle so that they may be eventually restored to the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood.  "He approves of penitents making a firm resolution to do no sin, and turning their back on it squarely, without thinking of child or wife or worldly wealth, so long as they are doing penance, for fear they should put" [the world before their salvation. They should retreat from the world during the time of penance.] Beware lest spiritual pride tempt a person to retreat from responsibilities and call it penance. Penance is assigned.
D. "There are four things for which no penance can be done in the land of Erin [or one's native land], namely, lying with a dead person; transgressing with a kinswoman (i. e.: sister or daughter) [or a child or an unwilling person]; falling into sin while holding higher Orders (i. e.: that of Bishop or Priest); and divulging a confession by saying 'this is what this man did.'" These require banishment from the land in which the sin was committed (from the country or continent) for at least twelve years, living the life of a penitent monastic. In addition, a pilgrimage from the land in which the sin was committed by water and foot to the Tomb of the Lord and immersion in the Jordan at the site of the Lord's Baptism are advisable as a sign of one's repentance.

IV. Meals and Food

A. All food is to be blessed. Prayer is to precede all meals and hymns and prayers follow all meals.
1. Céli Dé right hands are to be anointed per Baptismal Rite. If this was not already done, as in the Rites of Baptism of the Celtic and Eastern Rites or in the conferring of Holy Orders, it is to be "supplied" by Bishop or Priest.
2. If one is in a Céle Dé Community, prayer before and after meals is to follow the form in the Breviary.
a. The pre meal dialog occurs. (See A Celtic Breviary.)
b. Meals are followed by canticles and Hymns: "The Beatitudes of the refectory are sung standing, and thereafter Magnificat (the Hymn of St. Michael replaces this at None of Sundays) and Ego vero (Psalm 69: 13-end) and other canticles."
c. Further, readings are to occur at all meals of a Community: "It is the practice of the Céli Dé that while they are at dinner one of them reads aloud the Gospels and the Rule and miracles of Saints, to the end that their minds may be set on God, not on the meal: and the man who preaches at that time has his dinner in the afternoon, and in the course of the [next] day they are questioned severally about the subject of the sermon, to see whether their minds were occupied with it on [the previous] night or not."
3. If one is not in a Community of the Céli Dé, the Lord's Prayer followed by a blessing of the food is sufficient before meals. A hymn should be sung after meals as our Lord did [Mk 14:26].
4. It is a sin to waste food. Further, money or food should be set aside for those in any part of the world who are facing hunger and need. It is the Christian duty of every person to give alms, whether or not they can be repaid or are worthily received. (See fasting rules.)

V. Fasting

A. "Now if a man should desire to practise abstinence, and if it has not been his habit to subtract from his rations, let him subtract one eighth for a period of six months. What he can bear then throughout that period in point of abstinence or in foregoing part of his sleep will abide with him till his death. If he desires further abstinence, let him subtract another eighth of his rations in the same way, up to three, four or five eighths. He can bear all that amount, provided he does it gradually; also, what he subtracts by degrees from his sleep will not be harmful to him. A man however who disciplines himself severely, and whom sickness or disease distresses through his abstinence, must impose upon himself only a little additional, like a child. If he endures for six months, he will be able to bear the further imposition until death."
B. There are four major Fasts: 40 days following the Epiphany, 40 days before Easter; 40 days before Christmas; 40 days after Pentecost. There are Fasts on the Vigils of Major Feasts and on Feasts such as those of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and those of the Holy Cross. There is a Fast on the Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of all weeks.
1. On those days, all Céli Dé must abstain from all animal products and alcoholic drinks, except in the Eucharist.
2. Those in a Community Fast by limiting food to one meal, that of the evening.
3. All Céli Dé must abstain from all animal products and alcoholic drinks at evening meals of all Saturdays and any evening before a Liturgy.
4. There is a complete fast of all food and water from Midnight before the Mass.
C. "However much a man may suffer from thirst, he may not take a drink before Midnight. He may drink between Midnight and the office at bedtime." The soul-friend's direction must be sought should Medical conditions require a change in this practice.
1. "It is not lawful for a Céle Dé to drink anything after making water."
D. "All Maelrúain's community keeps a fast once a month, namely, half rations of bread and half rations of whey-water." This should be observed outside of major Fasts.
1. Milk is to be skim or watered: "To a draught on new milk, if there be no other milk [mixed with it], a fourth part of water is added."
E. "Some persons aver that the small, delicate diet is safer and better for the soul than the large coarse diet. On the Feasts of the Apostles and high Festivals and Sundays a change of diet, that is, something more delicate than other fare is proper, rather than an increase."
F. Those living in a Community are bound to abstain from animal flesh and alcohol during most of the year.
"If there chance to be any kale, the quantum of bread is not diminished, because they regard kale as a condiment, and it is dressed with milk, not butter. As for a piece of fish, or a little biestings (cow's colostrum) or cheese, or a hard boiled egg or apples, none of these things diminish the quantum of bread, so long as not more than a little of any of them is eaten, nor all of them together. Of apples, five or six along with the bread are enough, if they are large; while if they are small, twelve are sufficient. Three or four heads of leeks are allowed. Curds and whey are not eaten by them, but are used to make cheese. Flummery is made for them, and is not forbidden, provided that no rennet is put into it. The reason why it is not forbidden may be that it counts as bread. Whey of curds is not drunk alone, but is mixed with small curds as well."
1. Outside of the Fasting periods, the Community Fast is sometimes relaxed: "On principal feast-days which fall on a Thursday or Tuesday outside Lent a half-Selann (relaxation of Fasting to allow dairy products) is allowed, with a bochtan (lit: pauper i. e.: small amount) of beer or whey- water. If, however, a sip of whey-water or a goblet of beer is not to be had, then a small mess of gruel is made instead, that is, a quarter ration. When there chances to be a goblet of beer, it is not drunk at a draught, though they may be thirsty, but in sips, because these quench thirst, and thou hast not less sense of pleasure from them in thy drink."
a. "No Selann of butter is made, but instead of them a draught of whey-water is taken on the evening of a Monday or Wednesday or Friday or Saturday, even outside of Lent, or on a principal feast-day; but the feast-day which comes on a Monday is transferred to Tuesday, one which comes on Wednesday is transferred to Thursday, and one which comes on a Friday is transferred to the Tuesday following."
G. The Rule of Fast days is sometimes relaxed:
1. "On the eves of the chief festivals, namely, Christmas and the two Easters (Easter and Low Sunday, the Octave of Easter), it is usual to make a brew of thick milk, with honey added. It is not lawful to make a feast or drink beer on these nights, because of going to Communion the next day."
2. "On the Sundays of Great Lent a draught of milk is allowed to those undergoing strict penance. A Selann (relaxation of Fasting to allow dairy products) at night is, however, not forbidden on these Sundays. Penitents get no butter before or after, but only on Saint Patrick's Day, and further, when this feast falls on a Friday or Wednesday, a draught of milk is what is taken on it. On a Sunday, or on a festal day if it falls otherwise than on a fast-day, a Selann (relaxation of Fasting to allow dairy products) (i. e. a half-quantity of what is taken outside of a fast) is taken. Of bread the Céli Dé allow no increase, even on the festivals, but only of drink and of condiment and other things."
3. "On Maundy Thursday no relaxation of Fasting to allow dairy products is made, except a draught of milk or a goblet of beer and, it may be, a spoonful of honey, for this is usual on solemn days and high festivals, without a vigil or castigation being imposed as punishment. Whey-water and bread are the diet for this day: a sermon is preached, and then dinner in the afternoon."
4. "The relaxation at Easter permits eggs and lard and the flesh of deer and wild swine."
5. "Ye may have flesh meats in Great Lent, when other things are scarce, yet unless lives are in danger, it is better to keep the fast."
a. The substitution of fast items such as the giving up of sweets or smoking in place of giving up meat, is forbidden.
H. "A mess of gruel is allowed to penitents on festivals and on Sundays. and they have no exemption from vigils, except for one evening of every principal festival between Easter and Pentecost, and on Tuesday and Thursday between Christmas and Epiphany."
I. "He that regularly abstains from flesh takes a small particle at Easter, as a precaution against the occurrence of dearth or famine during the year; for he that does not relax on Easter Day has no opportunity to do so till the following Easter." (If famine causes an emergency where flesh must be eaten or starvation will occur, the flesh may not be eaten unless a bit of it has been eaten on Easter.)
J. "Further, when they are thirsty, a bochtan of whey or buttermilk, with water added, may be taken. This is to be drunk is sips."
K. "Any one who eats before the time, or takes such food that is not customary for him to take, must fast for doing so two nights on bread and water."
L. "If thou give thy ration to God and consume the other half thyself, this serves instead of a fast." (See the Rule, Meals and Food.)

VI. By Their Fruits Ye Will Know Them

A. Do not eat till thou be hungry: do not sleep till thou be ready for it: speak to none till there be cause.
B. Even in a community, labor is to be performed. As our Father Saint Maelrúain said:
"Three profitable things in the day: prayer, labor and study: or it may be teaching or writing or sewing clothes, or any other profitable work that he can do; so that none be idle, as the Lord has said: 'Thou shalt not appear in my sight empty.'"
1. No Céle Dé shall accept payment for inferior or incomplete work.
2. In cases of teaching, which is a sacred office due to its responsibility for the future of the student, failure of the student is considered incomplete labor. Teachers must learn teaching methods which work for different kinds of students. Teaching is the most highly recommended labor.
3. Labor includes charity. A tithe must come from the substance, not only the abundance. The substance is the actual work of the individual, not only part of the monetary payment for work. The substance does not include lands or equipment needed to do the work. Four hours of work for God would be required of every person if one worked forty hours for worldly concerns. (See the Rules Pertaining to the Pastors.)
a. Charity is a sign of the Holy Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences." [Gal.5:22-24] "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of godliness." [Isaias 11:2]
b. Charity is a Christian duty. Consider the Beatitudes. Also, "And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; and in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness; and in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity." [2Pet 1:5-7] "But, before all things, have a constant mutual charity among yourselves; for charity covereth a multitude of sins." [1Pet 4:8]
c. Charity is not boastful or ambitious. "Charity is patient, is kind; charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never falleth away, whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed." [1Cor 14:4-8]
d. Correct action produces virtues and combat sin. (from an Irish Penitential contemporary with our Father Saint Maelrúain):
1. Abstinence combats gluttony.
Abstinence produces: spiritual joy, decency of body, purity of soul, silence till need (of speech), comprehension of wisdom, abundance of intelligence, application to the mysteries of God.
a. Remedies for gluttony: moderate fasting, remorse of heart, rare meals, frequent self- questioning, watching, feasting the poor, solacing all the hungry, confinement at certain hours with a specified allowance, patience in regard to everything until it be considered.
2. Perseverance in chastity combats luxury.
Perseverance in chastity produces: steadfastness of counsel, quiet discourse, steadfastness as opposed to fickleness, faithful promises, keeping of troth, meditation on God, modesty of nature, confirming of faith, hatred of this world, love of the world to come.
a. Remedies against fleshly lust: subduing of gluttony, moderate meals, moderation in drink, avoidance of drunkenness, hatred of conviviality, mastering of nature, heedfulness in solitude, cheerfulness in company, attendance on elders, avoidance of young folk, a fixed measure of labor or reading or prayer, hatred of the rabble with unclean words, a stable mind with purity of conversation, desire of rewards so as to win them, contemplation of penalties so as to avoid them.
3. Liberality with charity combats avarice.
Liberality with charity produces: mercy with forgiveness, rectitude with truthfulness, bounty with gentleness, without pride, without hatred, without malice; compassion with eagerness, without treachery, without deceit, without cunning; benevolence without loquacity, without falsehood, without perjury, without insolence.
a. Remedies for avarice: service of Christ's strangers, feasts for the poor, laboring for one's food, a mind set on poverty, trust in a blessing, prevision of punishment, hope of reward, expectation of judgment in presence of the Creator on the Day of Judgment.
4. Kindliness of heart without malice combats envy.
Kindliness of heart without malice produces: brotherly love, helpfulness to our neighbor, speaking well of everyone, hatred of reviling, rejection of murmuring, magnifying of everything good, rebuking of everything evil, kindly words, a mind compassionate to all men, save for aught that involves sin.
a. The remedies for envy are: penance on bread and water for as long a time as there had been hatred in his heart. If evil has resulted from his envy, let him replace as much as was lost by his fault, if he have the wherewithal: if not, let him ask pardon tearfully and penitently... If it becomes a fixed habit with him, so that he does not remember to restrain himself, he is to be expelled fro the church to a place of penance until he shall have given up that vice... Anyone who loves to hear [envious gossip], let him do penance.
b. There are, however, four cases in which it is right to find fault with the evil that is in a man who will not accept his cure by means of entreaty and kindness: either to prevent someone else from abetting him in this evil; or to correct the evil itself; or to confirm the good; for out of compassion for him who does the evil. But anyone who does not do it for one of these four reasons is a fault-finder, and does penance four days, or recites the hundred and fifty psalms for it.
5. Meekness and gentleness combats anger.
Meekness and gentleness produce: soundness of heart, shunning of contention, gentle speech, repression of conceit, docility of nature, silence amid talkativeness, patience amid sufferings, hatred of reviling, zeal without chiding, benevolence without guile, munificence without malice.
a. The remedy against anger, and all that springs from it is penance. (For serious crimes and offenses, this penance may take many years.)
6. The remedies against despair are:
a. Spiritual joy with serenity of heart and mind against worldly sadness;
b. Fervency of prayer, with fasting and watching, against sluggishness and torpor;
c. Liberality with openness of mind toward God against inattention;
d. A fixed measure of labor and prayer against idle volatility;
e. Faith with works, joy with gentleness, against despair and malice of mind.
7. The remedies against vain glory are: obedience without contumacy, humility with quietness, shunning of strife, smoothness without simulation, learning from the venerable, steadfastness of nature, a lowly mind, respect for God.
C. "Food that is brought from a distance on a Sunday as an offering to anyone, it is not lawful for him to eat, but he should distribute it among the poor."
D. "It is forbidden to bathe in polluted water, and it is a defilement for every one who pours such water upon his head. Persons in Orders whose head it touches must take care to anoint and cross themselves thereafter."
E. "Tonsure is maintained once a month, on the last Thursday."
1. Those in a Community shave all hair in front of an imaginary line from ear to ear, thus shaving the hair of the front of the head.
a. Nuns are to let their hair grow back after the initial tonsure.
b. Men are to grow beards.
2. Men in secular professions must shave at least 1/4 inch back from their normal hairline.
3. While at Church, women are to wear skirts and cover their heads.
F. Clothing is to be modest at all times. Clothing is not prayer: what one dresses as is not as important as what one says, thinks or does.  The Habit is optional and may be worn by any Céli Dé at any time. It must be worn if one is wearing a clerical collar. The Habit is worn while one is in the house of a Céli Dé Community in which one lives:
The Habit is:
          1. Black,White or a combination.
2. Cassock or tunic.
3. The Cowl is part of a circular chasuble.
          a. This may be removed according to need as it is an overcoat.
b. Women wear this with the hood up whenever it is worn.
c. Celibate women wear a wimple.
4. Those in Holy Orders wear the Cross of their office over the chasuble.
5. Abbots and Abbesses carry a short, straight walking stick with rounded top or open-form wooden crook.
6. Bishops wear the rectangular Rationale and bear the staff or crook of Abbots. The Mitre is the flat Mitre.

VII. Rules pertaining to the Pastors:

A. "This is the most excellent of all labors, to wit, labor in piety; for the kingdom of heaven is granted to him who directs study, and to him who studies, and to him who supports the pupil who is studying. It is the duty of every one in Orders with whom these boys study to correct and admonish them and to press them to take ecclesiastical Orders forthwith, because they are being bred up for the Church and for God with a view to receiving Orders."
1. Céli Dé may charge for teaching or testing others for preparation for Holy Orders, but payment comes only after the student has passed his tests to the satisfaction of Doctor or Bishop other than themselves:
"Any one, moreover, with whom the boys study who are thus offered to God and to Patrick has a claim to reward and fee at the proper seasons, namely, a milch-cow as remuneration for [teaching] the [150] Psalms with their hymns, canticles and lections, and the rites of Baptism and Communion and intercession, together with the knowledge of the ritual generally, till the student be capable of receiving Orders. A heifer and a pig and three sacks of malt and a sack of corn are his fee every year, besides tendance and a compassionate allowance of raiment and food in return for his blessing. But the milch-cow is made over immediately after the student has publicly proved his knowledge of the Psalms and hymns, and after the public proof of his knowledge of the ritual the fee and habit are due. Moreover the doctor or Bishop before whom proof in the Psalms has been made is entitled to a collation of beer and food for five persons the same night."
a. For those not in agricultural business, the payment includes volunteer work and monetary payment. The volunteer work may be advanced during the time of study, but the payment will not be required until after completion of study.
B. In case of extreme need clergy may request permission to labor in secular professions, if the profession does not conflict with Canon law. Among the prohibitions: they may not earn money by usury, nor may they bear weapons for use against any person.
C. "Therefore it lies upon the souls of the men of Erin [or this Land] by the commandment of Patrick, that there be a chief Bishop to every chief state in Erin [or this Land], for ordaining men to holy Order, for consecrating churches, for receiving confession from kings and eranaghs and priests in Orders, for hallowing and blessing their children after Baptism, for appointing the labors of every church, and setting boys and girls to study and piety: for if the boys do not study at all seasons the whole Church will die, and there will be no belief, but black paganism in the land of Erin [or this Land]."
D. "Any Bishop, therefore, who confers higher Orders on any one who is not capable of exercising them, both as to piety and learning, and as to hearing confessions, and as to knowledge of law and rule, and appropriate remedies for every sort of sin, -- that Bishop is culpable before God and man, for what he has done is an affront to Christ and to his Church. Let him, therefore, do six years' penance, and let him give seven cumals of gold as satisfaction to the Creator as well."
1. All Céli Dé clergy are to be trained in the Celtic Rite and use it.
E. "When disease attacks a pregnant woman so that she is near to death, the Baptismal service is read aloud over water, and the woman makes confession on behalf of her unborn child, and the name of Flann or Cellach is given to it (each of these names being common to man or woman), and let the mother drink the water, so that it passes over the child, and this constitutes Baptism for it."
F. A Priest may charge a parish, which is capable of paying, for annual upkeep. The fee must be fixed in advance. He may not charge or receive gratuities for individual services:
"In any church, moreover, in which there is an ordained Priest from the minor churches of the laity, he has the claim to the stipend of his Orders, namely a house and garth and bed and a habit every year, so far as shall be in the power of the church, a sack [of seed-corn] with its yield, a cow in milk every quarter, and every reasonable demand of his generally. On his part again, the rites of Baptism and Communion (that is the Sacrament) and intercessory prayer for the living and the dead, and Mass every Sunday and every chief high-day and every chief Festival: celebration of all the canonical hours, and chanting of the hundred and fifty Psalms daily, unless hindered by teaching or hearing confessions. Any ordained Priest, therefore, who has no lawful title nor knowledge to discharge the duties of his Orders so that he is incompetent to celebrate the Hours and the Mass in the presence of kings and Bishops, has no claim to the privileges of an ordained priest in state or in church."
1. Charge for support of the parish is by tithing, but of the income and never the means of income: "Tithes are collected in this way. Every animal that a man owns is let out through a gap, and every tenth beast is given to God, except only oxen: because every tenth cartload of [the fruit of] their labor is taken." Tithing is not limited to agricultural businesses as it was in our Father Saint Maelrúain's time, those who do not have animals, or seeds must provide a tenth of the fruits of their labors, either in tradable goods, services or funds.
2. "The free tenure of the Church of God, in return for Baptism, and Communion and intercessory prayer, with boys for study and with the sacrifice of the Body of Christ on every altar. Churchmen have no claim to tithes, nor to the tenth cow, nor to the third that belongs to the patron's church, nor to compensation for valuables, unless the church provides its proper equivalents in Baptism and Communion and intercessory prayer for her tenants both living and dead, and unless there be sacrifice upon the altar on Sundays and high-days, and every altar have its complete furniture. Any church which has not its proper provision [of equipment and services] has not claim to the full compensation due to a church of God; but the name that Christ gives it is 'a den of thieves and robbers'."
a. If a parish does not have a proper church building and rectory, all of these obligations are still in effect: A parish which needs to rent, purchase or build a church building must hold all of its services in the best location available until a suitable building is ready: funding is needed more urgently, and a building fund is to be administered. Parishioners are to provide support as already explained. Each Priest or Bishop must use all of the materials proper to the services, must keep an account of offerings, and must make certain that alms are properly distributed.
G. "The food that is in a house when any one dies in it ought to be blessed and distributed among the poor: because food ought not to be kept in the same house with a sick man, or eaten in the same house with a dead man, however holy he may be."
H. "The priest who falls away from his Orders may not offer the Sacrifice of the Mass thereafter,
even though he do penance, since it is not admissible for a man without Orders to offer it."
I. "Any one, who violates the Church of God, that is, who buys or sells her out of greed and envy, will be selling the resting-place of his soul in Heaven, if [otherwise] he might reach it. For this is the worst bargain a man makes in the world, to sell his seat in the Church of Heaven, and to sell his soul to the Devil, and to sell his body in order to earn much hire from the churches, so that he eats the wage of his flesh before he dies. For this cause, he has nothing of his own, either body or soul or land, but all belongs to the Devil. For he who constantly violates God's church, it is God whom he violates and resists, even the man who abides not in His Commandments in the bosom of the Church of God. Through him the powers of all princes have perished, and their children and their sovereignty after them. Through him moreover, belief in the Lord has perished in states and kindreds. Through him are the doors of heaven shut and the doors of hell open, and the angels of God cease from watching over the earth, save when they come to wreak vengeance on this race of men, to wit, on wicked, prideful erenaghs, and on wicked greedy kings, who transgress the behests of Patrick, both in violating the Church and in buying and selling her, and in exalting pride and vainglory, so that their reward hereafter is in hell. But he that protects the Church of God with humility and obedience and observance of these behests of Patrick, may he receive a hundredfold in the present world and [inherit] the Kingdom of Heaven without end! May we dwell therein for unto ages of ages."

VIII. Admission

A. All called to devote their lives to devotion to Christ according to the Practices of the Ancient Celtic churches:
1. Practice the Hours of the Breviary, receive the Sacraments of the Church.
2. Seek and secure the guidance of a Abbot or Abbess* and receive their written permission to request the tonsure. This requires much prayer and thought because of the nature of such a vow.
3. Take a solemn vow to follow this Rule for the period of one year's Postulancy. This is renewable at the discretion of the Abbot or Abbess.
4. Upon completion of the Postulancy, those called to the Rule for life take a solemn vow to follow this Rule and receive the Blessing, Tonsure and Vesting from a Priest or Bishop.
5. Those that are unmarried at the time of tonsure remain celibate. Those that are married, may not divorce or remarry.

Amen.
*At present, all applications are made through Abbot Bishop Maelrúain of New Tallaght: Abbot-Bishop Maelruain,Céli Dé of New Tallaght, P.O. Box 72102, Akron, OH 44372. Internet homepage: http://CelticChristianity.org phone: 1-330-622-6359 email: espmaelruain@celticchristianity.org Home Return to Previous Page