Category: Christian Prayer

Holy Father of Glory

Thanks to you, Holy Father of glory,CelticCapital4
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

 

AncientCelticChAd

God Be with Us

CelticCapitalGod be with us
on this your day.
Amen.

To us and with us
on this your day.
Amen.

It is clear to be seen of us,
since we came into the world,
that we have deserved your wrath.
Amen.

Your own wrath,
God of all.
Amen.

Grant us forgiveness.
Amen.

Grant us forgiveness.
Amen.

Grant to us your own forgiveness
merciful God of all.
Amen.

Anything that is evil to us,
or that may witness against us,
as we shall live,
illumine it to us
obscure it to us
banish it from us,
root it out of our hearts,
ever evermore everlastingly,
ever evermore everlastingly.
Amen.

Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 15, 17. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 14

God Listen to My Prayer

CelticCapital2God listen to my prayer,
bend to me your ear,
let my supplications and my prayers
ascend to you upwards.
Come King of Glory,
to protect me down,
King of life and mercy
with the aid of the Lamb,
Son of Mary Virgin,
to protect me with power.

Source: Invocation of the Graces, written down by Margaret MacDonald, (1888) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 13

Graphic is from, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 12

In the original, the prayer ends with these two lines:

Son of the lovely Mary
of purest fairest beauty

God with Me Lying Down

CelticCapital3God with me lying down,
God with me rising up,
God with me in each ray of light,
Nor I a ray of joy without him,
Nor one ray without him.

Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
Every day and night,
Each day and night.

God with me protecting,
The Lord with me directing,
The Spirit with me strengthening,
Forever and forevermore,
Ever and evermore, Amen.
Chief of chiefs, Amen.

Source: Mary Macrae, Isle of Harris (1866), Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 5

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 4

 

AncientCelticChAd

A Morning Commendation

Short prayers to be committed unto perfect memory for our first Holy Exercise in the beginning of the day.

__________

When we first awake.

Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. (Psalm 13:3)

Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. (Ephesians 5:14)

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalm 119:18)

At our uprising.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity now and for evermore.

Or this.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for me, I arise from my own rest to do him service. By His Cross and Passion, may he save me, bless me, govern me and keep me this day and forever. Amen.

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5)

At apparelling. 

Clothe me with the garments of salvation; cover me with the robe of righteousness. (From Isaiah 61:10)

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)

At the washing of our hands.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (Psalm 51:2)

Cleanse me, O Lord, in the bright fountain of your mercy, and water me with the dew of your abundant grace, that being purified from my sins I may grow up in good works truly serving you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.

And then humbly commending ourselves to God’s protection upon our knees.

Into the hands of your blessed protection and boundless mercy, O Lord, I commend this day my soul and my body,with all the faculties, powers and actions of them both. Always be with me to direct, sanctify and govern me in the ways of your laws and in the works of your commandments, that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, I may be preserved in body and soul to serve you, the only true God, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Source: Modified from Collection of Private Devotions in the Practice of the Ancient Church, Called the Hours of Prayer, Ed. John Cosin, James Parker & Co, 1867, p. 47-49

The final prayer is also found in the Sarum Psalter.

 

SarumAd.png

 

Help Us Bear Burdens

O God,
you are love.
Help your children
to bear one another’s burdens
in perfect goodwill
that your peace
which passes understanding may
keep our hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Source: Book of Hours 1865

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 285 #2

Reconcile Us

antifonariodelec3b3n1O God,
out of your great love for this world
you reconciled earth to heaven through your only Son.
By the darkness of our sins
we are often turned aside from brotherly love.
Let your light shine in our souls
and fill us with your own sweetness
and embrace our friends in you
and our enemies for your sake
in a bond of mutual affection.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 269 #1

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Mozarabic, ad.

Watch over Our Paths

antifonariodelec3b3n1O Lord,
you are our redemption.
Be our protection.
Direct our minds by your gracious presence
and watch over our paths
with guiding love,
that among the snares which lie hidden
on this path we walk
we may walk forward
with hearts fixed on you,
that on this path of faith
we may arrive where you want us.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 190 #1.

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Mozarabic, ad.

Give Us Peaceful Hearts

antifonariodelec3b3n1Lord God almighty,
you are the true peace and love eternal.
Enlighten our souls
with the brightness of your peace,
and purify our consciences
with the sweetness of your love.
Give us peaceful hearts as we wait for you.
Guard and protect us in the adversities of this world,
surround us with your care,
that we may to give ourselves to the love of your peace.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 171 #2

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Mozarabic, ad.

The Light of the World

antifonariodelec3b3n1Hear us, never-failing Light,
Lord our God, source of light,
light of the angels, principalities, powers
and all intelligent beings.
You have created the light for your saints.
May our souls be your lamps
kindled and illuminated by you.
May we shine and burn with the truth
and never go out in darkness and ashes.
May the gloom of sins be cleared away
and the light of constant faith abide within us.
Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Rite

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern
by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 62 #1

Graphic: Mozarabic manuscript from the Cathedral of Leon, from Wikimedia Commons.

 

Mozarabic, ad.