Song about Iona

Iona Song Lyrics

 
Iona, sweet Iona
island out of time
Your lost child is returning
his shadow close behind
Anger in his breast
black dog in his mind

I feel like an island of rage
in a vast sea of peace
Like a worm in a cathedral
like a beggar at a feast
Columba heal my black heart!
let my nightmare cease

Lace upon the window
patterns on the sheets
Three ships in the distance
horsemen in the street
Lord God fit me
to be your hands and feet

 - The Waterboys

Picture: the Abbey Iona from the beach - my photo...

Celtic saints on how to live a Christian life.... (2)

If you persevere unhindered in meditation and prayer to the blessed Trinity, God will be ever with you. ~ St. Ita

Three things that please God are true faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a greatful spirit, and generosity inspired by charity. ~ St. Ita 

It is better to rejoice than to mourn. ~ St. Brendan

 

Live in mutual harmony with all other servants of Christ. ~ St. Cuthbert

 

Do not despise those faithful who come to you seeking hospitality. Receive them, put them up, and set them on their way with kindness, treating them as one of yourselves. ~ St. Cuthbert

Do not ever think yourselves better than the rest of your companions who share the same faith. ~ St. Cuthbert

Image "Necropolis, Glasgow, Scotland" courtesy of  Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Celtic saints on how to live a Christian life.... (1)

See in each herb and small animal, every bird and beast, and in each man and woman, the eternal Word of God. ~ St. Ninian

 

Be at peace, and have genuine charity among yourselves. If you follow the example of the holy fathers, God, the comforter of all good, will be your helper.  ~ St. Columba (Columcille)

Always preserve divine charity among yourselves. ~ St. Cuthbert

Be joyful, brothers and sisters. Keep your faith and do the little things. ~ St. David

Image "Necropolis, Glasgow, Scotland" courtesy of  Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 
 

St Patrick's Breastplate prayer

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In prediction of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me.
God's host to save me

From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and souls,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
so that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation

Photo of Celtic Cross from Iona

Love is like...

Love is like a butterfly
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing

 

A Dolly Parton song.   

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

St Brigid's prayer...

"I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered
around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord;
that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow
a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven's family drinking
it through all eternity."
- Prayer of St. Brigid (February 1, Feast Day of St. Brigid)

 

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friendship

'Friendship creates hope, hope defeats fear, and we can handle any future so long as we do it together, made stronger not weaker by our differences.' 

- The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks

Image courtesy of Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wisdom from Charlie Chaplin....

"We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness — not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another." ~ Charlie Chaplin (The Great Dictator)

 

(Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net )

Celtic prayer

God to enfold me,                                            
God to surround me,                                       
God in my speaking,                                     
God in my thinking.                                       
   
God in my sleeping,                                       
God in my waking,                                          
God in my watching,               
God in my hoping.                                          
     
God in my life,                                                  
God in my lips,                                                  
God in my hands,                                              
God in my heart.                                             

God in my sufficing,                                   
God in my slumber,                                
God in mine ever-living soul,                   
God in mine eternity.                    
           From  Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations, collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Alexander Carmichael. 

Image courtesy of ahmet guler / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

St. Columba's prayer for light and love

O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Saviour, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen.

--Saint Columba

Picture - a celtic cross on Iona - a photo I took on a visit there...