Night prayer

In the coming hours of darkness
may there be light in our dreams.
In the stillness of sleep
may there be strength for our souls.
In the wakeful watches of night
may there be peace in our minds.
Light for new vision
strength to make sacrifice
peace for our world.
On the pathways of earth's journey this night
let there be peace.
- From Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace

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A night prayer

Calm me, O Lord, as you stilled the storm.

Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.

Let all the tumult within me cease.

Enfold me, Lord, in your peace

Holy God, bless the work that is done,

And the work that is to be.

Jesus Christ, bless the servant that I am,

And the servant that I will be

Lord God of power and might

Shield and sustain us this night.

I will lie down this night with God,

And God will lie down with me;

I will lie down this night with Christ,

And Christ will lie down with me;

I will lie down this night with the Spirit,

And the Spirit will lie down with me;

God and Christ and the Spirit,

Be lying down with me.

The peace of God

Be over us to shelter us,

Under us to uphold us,

About us to protect us,

Behind us to direct us,

Ever with us to save us.

The peace of all peace

Be mine this night

In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

- Celtic night prayer from Northumbria Community

 Image courtesy of Exsodus / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Night

“The world rests in the night. Trees, mountains, fields, and faces are released from the prison of shape and the burden of exposure. Each thing creeps back into its own nature within the shelter of the dark. Darkness is the ancient womb. Nighttime is womb- time. Our souls come out to play. The darkness absolves everything; the struggle for identity and impression falls away. We rest in the night.”
― John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

Image "Candles" courtesy of  Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Celtic blessing prayer

"Bless to me, O God
My soul and my body;
Bless to me, O God
My belief and my condition

Bless to me, O God
My heart and my speech
And Bless to me, O God
The handling of my hand

Strength and busyness of morning,
Habit and temper of modesty,
Force and wisdom of thought
And Thine own path, O God of virtues,
Till I go to sleep this night"

- Celtic blessing

Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

A Hasidic Tale

'How can we determine the hour or dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?' asked the Teacher.
'When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep' suggested one of the students.
'No' was the answer.
'Is is when one can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?' asked a second student.

'No.'
'Please tell us the answer then.'
'It is, then,' said the Teacher, 'when you can look in the face of a human being and you have enough light to recognise in him or her your brother or sister. Up till then it is night and darkness is still with us.'

 

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