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The Lorica of St Fursey

1/17/2017

The arms of God be around my shoulders,
the touch of the Holy Spirit upon my head,
the sign of Christ’s cross upon my forehead,
the sound of the Holy Spirit in my ears,
the fragrance of the Holy Spirit in my nostrils,
the vision of heaven’s company in my eyes,
the conversation of heaven’s company on my lips,
the work of God’s church in my hands,
the service of God and the neighbor in my feet,
a home for God in my heart, and to God,
the father of all, my entire being. Amen.

The Rule of St Columba

11/29/2016

Rule of St Columba

The Rule of St. Columba is a late 7th or early 8th century document whose authorship is unknown. It is believed to be an accurate reflection of the early spiritual practices that we see recorded by Adomnan in his Life of St. Columba.

1. Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if your conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.
   2.   Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists
   3.   Whatever little or much you possess of anything; whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not fitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.
   4.   Let a fast place with one door enclose you.
   5.   A few religious men/women to converse with you of God and Testaments; to visit you on days of solemnity; to strengthen you in the testaments of God and the narratives of the scriptures.
   6.   A person who would talk to you in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he/she cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress you more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, you shall not admit them to you, but at once give them your benediction should they deserve it.
   7.   Let your servant be a discreet, religious, not a tale telling person, who is to attend continually on you with moderate labour of course, but always ready. Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.
   8.   A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is death for the faith].
   9.   A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom [that is ascetic practices].
   10.   Forgiveness from the heart of everyone.
   11.   Constant prayers for those who trouble you.
   12.   Fervour in singing the office for the dead as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of yours.
   13.   Hymns for souls to be sung standing.
   14.   Let your vigils be constant from eve to eve under the direction of another person.
   15.   Three labours a day; prayer, work and reading.
   16.   The work to be divided into three parts; your own work and the work of your place as regards its real wants. Secondly the share of your brother/sisters work and lastly to help your neighbours, by instructions or writing, sewing garments or whatever labour they may be in want of [as the Lord says, “You shall not appear before me empty”].
   17.   Everything in its proper order [for no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully].
   18.   Follow alms giving before all things.
   19.   Take not food until you are hungry.
   20.   Do not sleep until you feel the desire.
   21.   Speak not except on business.
   22.   Every increase which comes to you, in lawful meals or clothing give it for pity to the brethren that want it or to the poor in like manner.
   23.   The love of God with all your heart and all your strength.
   24.   The love of your neighbours as yourself.
   25.   Live in the Testament of God throughout all times.
   26.   The measure of your prayers shall be until your tears come.
   27.   The measure of your work until your tears come.
   28.   The measure of your physical work or your genuflexions until your perspiration comes if your tears are not free.

A Prayer for Alban Elfed

9/22/2016

“We should pray before sunrise and after sunset, pray prayers that have for their purposes no personal advantage, but are as native as are the vesper cries of pairing partridges, and as full of natural gratitude as is the heart of a lover.”
— LLEWELYN POWYS, Earth Memories

Give us O God, of the morning meal.
Benefit to the body, the frame of the soul;
Give us, O God, of the seventh bread,
Enough for our need at evening close.

Give us, O God, of the honey-sweet foaming milk,
The sap and milk of the fragrant farms,
And give, O God, along with Thy sheep,
Rest in the shade of Thy covenant rock.

Give us this night of the corn that shall last,
Give us this night of the drink that shall hurt not;
Give us this night, anear to the heavens,
The chalice of Mary mild, the tender.

Be with us by day, be with us by night,
Be with us by light and by dark,
In our lying down and in our rising up,
In speech, in walk, in prayer.

("The Meal" - Carmina Gadelica, Vol. III)

Mercy

8/26/2016

I bathe my soul in the everlasting waters:
mercy of light upon my brow,
mercy of life upon my tongue,
mercy of love upon my heart.
The mercies of mercies upon every being,
from full of night,
till crack of light, in the perfection of peace.

(Caitlin Matthew)

Tau Blaise taking the waters at Avers Am Bach

A Summer Cincture of Protection

6/9/2016

I weave the cincture of protection
from the paths of the pilgrim:
aspiration of heights,
guidance of star-paths,
dryness of deserts,
clarity of clearings,
refreshment of wells,
choice of crossroads,
shade of forest-paths,
wisdom of caves,
deepness of depths.
Nine pathways to guide and protect me
on the ways I shall walk this day.

(Caitlin Matthews)

Beginning a New Week

4/18/2016

"Today, I begin the holy Seven,
Blessed by the holy Three
Each day a blessing,
Each night a rest,
A dweller in a holy place.
Each day a page,
Each week a chapter
In the hand of God."

(from "A Contemporary Celtic Prayerbook")

"For a New Beginning" by John O'Donohue

4/18/2016

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

Nine Powers of the Gifting Ones - A Spring Prayer

4/17/2016

I encircle myself with the
nine powers of the gifting ones:
ecstasy of energy,
pattern of destiny,
protection of learning,
inspiration of initiation,
challenge of adversary,
liberation of love,
transformation of weaving,
stability of guardianship,
empowerment of wisdom.
Nine encircling breaths
of nine gifting maidens
be my protection this spring day.

(Caitlin Matthews)

Charm of Grace

4/12/2016

The Charm placed by Brigit,
Maiden of graces,
On the white daughter of the king,
Gile-Mhin the beauteous.

The form of God is behind thee,
The form of Christ is before thee,
The stream of Spirit is through thee,
To succour and aid thee.

The bloom of God is upon thee,
The bloom of Christ is upon thee,
The bloom of Spirit is upon thee,
To bathe thee and make thee fair.