The Poetry of Pilgrimage

'Michael's poems bring us fresh but timeless riches for our spiritual journeys, wherever they may be. Drink deeply from this holy well of divine grace.' Graham Booth, former Guardian of the Community of Aidan and Hilda. 'Michael Mitton has left an indelible mark on my life; he was a voice of courage as I embarked on my own missionary journey to Cornwall. His book brings to life the characters whose faith shaped the British Isles; they are much needed companions for the church, to rekindle faith and stir courage.' The Revd Anna Mason-Hyde, church leader of St Gregory's in Cornwall 'As one of many on pilgrimage with Michael, who is both bard and spiritual director, I have beheld the wild Spirit of God ignite our pilgrim band at these sites and birth fresh encounters with the Presence of the living God. May you find such portals leading deep into God's heart through Michael's visionary poetry and your own reflections.' The Revd Dr Sandi Kerner, canon for prayer and healing, Cathedral Church of St Luke and St Paul and for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina 'This is a book whose simple and heartfelt words will gather you - you with your fear and failings, joys and dreams - and lift you to fly with the Wild Goose who seeks you.' Penny Warren, members' Guardian of the Community of Aidan and Hilda '[The poems] are beautifully crafted... they are soulful, spiritual and carry a depth and a yearning. They bring to life in a wonderful way the lives of Celtic saints and their mystical longings. They reverberate like prayers. I am drawn back to them again and again.' Jonny Baker, Britain hub mission director for Church Mission Society 'Michael Mitton brings us face to face with spiritual yet human Celtic characters and transports us to places made holy by their lives. He relates recent spiritual encounters in these thin places and gives us poems and thought-provoking questions to extend our dwelling there. It's a book to treasure and read slowly - a saint at a time.' George Lings retired researcher and author of Seven Sacred Spaces and Reproducing Churches 'I have admired Michael Mitton's poetry ever since I first heard him read one of his works during a pilgrimage in Ireland. His words resonated with us, capturing and amplifying the encounters with the Holy Spirit that we were experiencing. Reading The Poetry of Pilgrimage reignites that same sense of wonder and abandon, inspiring me to follow Jesus more fervently. These poems offer readers encouragement and strength to persevere through the wild and unknown of their own spiritual journeys.' The Rt Revd Ron Dent Kuykendall PhD, rector of St Andrew's Gainesville, Florida, and executive chaplain to the national director and chaplain to the board for the International Order of St Luke the Physician 'The poetry and prose that you will find in these pages will transport you into the lives of many Celtic saints in their places, and you will be drawn into the Divine Spirit that they each embodied through Michael's directed reflection and scripture readings. The pictures and stories he adds to the poems complete this beautiful piece of literature which adds to the centuries old Celtic tradition of sharing poem and story and song.' David Cassian Cole, author of Celtic Saints, The Celtic Year and The Art of Peace: Life lessons from Christian mystics