Holy Father of Glory

Thanks to you, Holy Father of glory,
Father kind, ever loving, ever powerful,
because of all the abundance, favor, and deliverance
that you bestow on us in our need.
Whatever providence befalls us as your children,
in our portion, in our lot, in our path,
seal it to us with the rich gifts of your hand
and the joyous blessing of your mouth.

We are guilty and polluted, O God,
in spirit, in heart, and in flesh,
in thought, in word, in act,
we are hard in sin in your sight.
Put forth to us the power of your love,
leap over the mountains of our transgressions,
and wash us in the true blood of reconciliation,
like the snow of the mountain, like the lily of the lake.

In the steep path of our common calling,
be it easy or uneasy to our flesh,
be it bright or dark for us to follow,
your own perfect guidance be on us.
Be a shield to us from the wiles of the deceiver,
from the arch-destroyer with his arrows pursuing us,
and in each secret thought our minds get to weave,
be yourself on our helm and at our sail.

Though dogs and thieves would raid us from the fold,
be the strong Shepherd of glory near us.
whatever matter or cause or propensity,
that would bring to us grief, or pains, or wounds,
or that would bear witness against us at the last,
on the other side of the great river of dark shadows,
Oh! obscure it from our eyes,
and from our hearts drive it for ever.

Now to the Father who created each creature,
now to the Son who paid ransom for his people,
now to the Holy Spirit, Comforter of might:
shield and bless us from every wound,
be about the beginning and end of our race,
be giving us to sing in glory,
in peace, in rest, in reconciliation,
where we shall shed no tear, where we shall die no more…
where we shall shed no tear, where we shall die no more.

Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 23, 25. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 22