celtic – Page 5 – A Collection of Prayers

A Personal Blessing

O Lord, open your heavens;
from there may your gifts descend to him.
Put forth your own hand and touch his head.
May he feel the touch of your hand,
and receive the joy of the Holy Spirit,
that he may remain blessed for evermore.
Amen.

Source: Æthelwold of Winchester, c. 908-984

Source of this version: Modified from http://www.dsbc.org.uk/downloads/June_2012_MAGAZINE_seq.pdf

Also found in Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts, p. 41

Blessing from the Book of Cerne

bookcerneevangalist God the Father bless me,
Christ guard me,
the Holy Spirit enlighten me,
all the days of my life!
The Lord be the defender and guardian
of my soul and my body, now and ever! Amen.
The right hand of the Lord preserve me always to old age!
The grace of Christ perpetually defend me from the enemy!
Direct, Lord, my heart into the way of peace.
Hasten to save me, O God!
O Lord, come quickly to help me!

Source: The Book of Cerne

Source of this version: Modified from http://assets.newscriptorium.com/collects-and-prayers/prmanual.htm

“Hasten…” is a reference to Psalm 70:1

Original in Latin:
Benedicat me deus pater
custodiat me christus
inluminet me spiritus sanctus
omnibus diebus vitae meae
Sit dominus defensor
Atttque custus animi mei et corporis mei et nunc et semper
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
dextera me domini conseruet semper ein aevum.
Direge domine cor meum in viam pacis.
…
Domine Deus in adjutorium meum intende domine ad adivuan meum adnuntiavit laudem tuam.

Prayer Book of Aedeluald the Bishop, Commonly Called the Book of Cerne, p. 101-102.

Illustration from the Book of Cerne, Cambridge University Library, wikipedia.com

Blessing from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

saint_patrick_28window29

May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us
against the snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.

May Christ be with us.
Christ before us.
Christ in us.
Christ over us.
May your salvation, O Lord,
be always ours
this day and forever more.

Source: St. Patrick, from “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”

Source of this version: http://www.oursanctuary.net/breastplate.html

Graphic: Saint Patrick stained glass window from Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA, from Wikimedia Commons

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