A Collection of Prayers

Sleeping Prayer

I am placing my soul and my body CelticCapital15
in your sanctuary this night, O God,
in your sanctuary, O Jesus Christ,
in your sanctuary, O Spirit of perfect truth,
the Three who would defend my cause,
nor turn their backs on me.

Father, who is kind and just,
Son, who overcame death,
Holy Spirit of power,
keep me this night from harm,
the Three who would justify me,
keep me this night and always.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 73. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.72

The Soul’s Cry

CelticCapital18

O Jesu! tonight,
O Shepherd of the poor,
O sinless One,
you suffered full sore,
by ban of the wicked,
and were crucified.

Save me from evil,
save me from harm,
save my body,
sanctify me tonight,
O Jesu, tonight,
nor leave me.

Endow me with strength,
Herdsman of might,
guide me aright,
guide me in your strength.
O Jesu! in your strength
preserve me.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 71. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.70

The Lighter of the Stars

CelticCapital17 Behold the Lighter of the stars,
on the crests of the clouds,
and the singers of the sky,
praising him.

Coming down with acclaim,
from the Father above,
harp and lyre of song,
sounding to him.

Christ, refuge of my love,
why should not I raise your fame!
Angels and saints melodious
Singing to you.

Son of God and man,
of exceeding purity of beauty,
joy were it to me to be in the fields
of your riches.

O Christ, my beloved,
O Christ, of the Holy Blood,
by day and by night
I praise you.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 45. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.44

“Son of God and man” in the original is “Son of the Mary of graces, of exceeding white purity of beauty.”

Jesu, Son of God, Son of Mary

CelticCapital16 Jesu, Son of God,
have mercy on us,
Amen.

Jesu, Son of Mary,
make peace with us,
Amen.

Oh, with us and for us
where we shall longest be,
Amen.

Be about the morning of our course,
be about the closing of our life,
Amen.

Be at the dawning of our life,
and oh! at the darkening of our day,
Amen.

Be for us and with us,
merciful God of all,
Amen.

Consecrate us
condition and lot,
King of kings,
God of all,
Amen.

Consecrate us
rights and means,
King of kings,
God of all,
Amen.

Consecrate us
Heart and body,
King of kings,
God of all,
Amen.

Each heart and body,
Each day to yourself,
Each night accordingly,
King of kings,
God of all,
Amen.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 19, 21. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.18

In the original, the first line is “Jesu, thou Son of Mary…”

The Gifts of the Three

CelticCapital14 Spirit, give me of your abundance,
Father, give me of your wisdom,
Son, give me in my need,
Jesus beneath the shelter of your shield.

I lie down tonight,
with the Triune of my strength,
with the Father,
with Jesus,
with the Spirit of might.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 75. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.74

Blessing of House

God bless the house, CelticCapital
From site to stay,
From beam to wall,
From end to end,
From ridge to basement,
From balk to roof beam,
From found to summit,
Found and summit.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 105. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p.104

Evening Blessing

Place your right hand, O God, under my head, CelticCapital12
place your light, O Spirit, over me shining,
and let the cross of the good Savior cover me now,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet.

O Jesu without offence, crucified cruelly,
under ban of the wicked you were scourged,
for many evils done by me in the body,
that I cannot this night enumerate,
that I cannot this night enumerate.

O good King of the blood of truth,
cast me not from your covenant,
exact not from me for my transgressions,
nor omit me in your numbering,
nor omit me in your numbering.

Place the cross of Jesu over me in peace,
let my soul dwell in the truth, let my heart be free of guile,
let my soul be in peace with you, Brightness of the mountains,
valiant Savior, accompany my soul,
morn and eve, day and night. May it be so.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 67. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 66

Several lines of this prayer were altered to keep the prayer Christ-centered.

God Guide Me

God guide me with your wisdom, CelticCapital11
God discipline me with your justice,
God help me with your mercy,
God protect me with your strength.

God fill me with your fullness,
God shield me with your shade,
God fill me with your grace,
for the sake of your Anointed Son.

Jesu Christ, the Son of David,
visiting Boy in the Temple,
sacrificial Lamb in the Garden,
who died for me.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 65. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 64

Desires

May I speak each day according to your justice, CelticCapital10
each day may I show your discipline, O God,
may I speak each day according to your wisdom,
each day and night may I be at peace with you.

Each day may I count the causes of your mercy,
may I each day give heed to your Word,
each day may I compose to you a song,
may I harp each day your praise, O God.

May I each day give love to you, Jesu,
each night may I do the same,
each day and night, dark and light,
may I laud your goodness to me, O God.

Source: Unknown Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 51. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 50

Prayer for Protection

As you are the Shepherd over the flock CelticCapital9
tend us to the shelter and the fold,
bless us beneath your own glorious mantle,
be our Shield of protection, and guard us forever.

Be a hard triumphant sword
to shield us securely from wicked hell,
from the fiends and from the cold, sharp daggers,
and from the lurid smoke of the abyss.

My soul is in the trust of the High King,
the Good Shepherd is in charge of my soul.

Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889) Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 37. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 36

“from the fiends and from the cold, sharp daggers,” in Carmina’s translation is “From the fiends and from the steive snell gullies.” In Scots Gaelic “fheadaine frinne fuara.” Google translate gives “cold” for “fuara.” Other Scots English dictionaries gave “piercing” for “snell,” and “knife” for “gullie.”

“The Good Shepherd is in charge of my soul,” this line was altered to keep the prayer Christ-centered.