Irish prayer

Dear Lord,
Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope…
And though I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life,
and for time’s olden memories that are good and sweet.
And may the evening’s twilight find me gentle still.
- An Irish prayer

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Syrian prayer

May God, the unsearchable abyss of peace, the ineffable sea of love,
the fountain of blessings, and the bestower of affection,
who sends peace to those that receive it,
open to you this day the sea of His love,
and water you with plenteous streams from the riches of His grace.
May God make you a child of quietness, and heir of peace.
May God enkindle in you the fire of His love.
May God strengthen your weakness with His power.
May God bind you and me and everyone else closely to Him and to each other in one firm and indissoluble bond of unity.
- Adapted from a prayer from the Syrian Clementine Liturgy

 Image courtesy of  xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I wish you enough

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Author unknown


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Old Celtic poem

The path I walk, Christ walks it. 

May the land in which I am be without sorrow.

May the Trinity protect me wherever I stay, 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Bright angels walk with me – dear presence – in every 

dealing.

In every dealing I pray them that no one’s poison may reach 

me.

The ninefold people of heaven of holy cloud, 

the tenth force of the stone earth.

Favourable company, they come with me, 

so that the Lord may not be angry with me.

May I arrive at every place, may I return home; 

may the way in which I spend be a way without loss.

May every path before me be smooth, 

man, woman and child welcome me.

A truly good journey! 

Well does the faith Lord show us a course, a path.

- An old Celtic poem attributed to St. Columba

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Blessing for a summer vacation

Take time to claim your strength;
they are gifts of God.
Take time to have fun;
it’s God’s way of teaching you your strengths.
Take time to grow yourself;
only you can grow you.
Take time to trust yourself;
God trusts you.
Take time to be self-reliant;
it is better than being dependent.
Take time to share with others;
they will bless you, and you will bless them.
Take time to have hope,
you are a child of God.

- Blessing for Summer Vacation (source unknown)

Image "Family" courtesy of arztsamui  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

An Iona blessing

May God, who is present

in sunrise and nightfall,

and in the crossing of the sea,

guide your feet as you go.

May God,

who is with you when you sit

and when you stand,

encompass you with love

and lead you by the hand.

May God, who knows your path

and the places where you rest,

be with you in your waiting

be your good news for sharing,

and lead you in the way

that is everlasting.

- A blessing from Iona

Photo - Old stone cross on Iona by me

A prayer by David Adam

"Lord you are in this place, 

Fill us with your power, 

Cover us with your peace, 

Show us your presence.

Lord help us to know, 

We are in your hands, 

We are under your protection, 

We are covered by your love.

Lord we ask you, today, 

To deliver us from evil, 

To guide us in our travels, 

To defend us from all harm.

Lord give us now,

Eyes to see the invisible, 

Ears to hear your call, 

Hands to do your work, 

And hearts to respond to your love."

(David Adam, 'Border Lands')

Photo by me of Iona 

Summer blessing

Blessing of discovery be yours

and blessing of rest.

Blessing of scenery be yours

and blessing of sleep.

Blessing of friends and family be yours

and blessing of solitude.

Blessing of fun be yours

and blessing of thought.

Blessing of change be yours

and blessing of homecoming.

Image "Family" courtesy of arztsamui  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

John Philip Newell prayer

"O Sun behind all suns
O Soul within all souls
grant me the grace of the dawn's glory
grant me the strength of the sun's rays
that I may be well in my own soul
and part of the world's healing this day
that I may be well in my own soul
and part of the world's healing this day."
- John Philip Newell


 Image courtesy of Photokanok / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Alone with God

"Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
alone with you, God, holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide
prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me
till the waters come again and fold me back to you." 
- Prayer of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne


Photo by me - a beach on Iona