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Prayers Ray Simpson writes: Prayer for me is opening my heart up. Prayer can
be any words that occur to you, directed to God as the mood fits. |
This page gives a taster of Celtic prayer in its ancient and modern varieties. See our books page for further reading.. and praying. |
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Everyday prayers The Celts liked to pray about any and everything in a natural way. Prayers for frequent activities were learned by heart and handed down by word of mouth or later in writing. Some of their prayers are blessings and this is one of my favourites: Bless to me, O God Some Celtic prayers were what is known as "circling
prayers". For example... Circle me, Lord. Choose a person or situation you wish to pray for.
Either physically, or in your mind, circle them. Say a prayer similar
to the one above, but decide what things you want to keep within and without. |
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Prayer and imagination Celtic Christians liked to use their imagination. For example, by imagining that Jesus, his mother or friends are in our back garden, workplace or bedroom! As we imagine this, we begin to sense what they would think and do if they were us. Here are some examples of these prayers... I will do my household chores as would Mary, mother of Jesus. I will travel to my next place in the presence of the angels of protection. Who is that near me when
I am sad and alone? |
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Armour ("Breastplate") prayers The most famous of these prayers for protection is called "St Patrick’s
Breastplate". This invites God’s force-field to strengthen us
for life’s struggles. The armour consists of... 1. God – the three in one The praying person then confronts negative forces one by one, invites Christ into each situation, and repeats the opening invocation. To make your own armour prayer, choose an example for numbers 1-5 above and confront one negative force in your life. Close your prayer by inviting Christ and the Trinity into it. In the St Patrick’s Breastplate prayer, the writer imagines that he is Patrick, putting on the different items of God’s armour: God, good spirits, saints, powers of creation, spiritual gifts – just like a suit of armour. I know this well, and use some of it every morning. The seventh verse of the prayer has these words... Christ beside me |
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The Celtic way is to bless everything in life (except evil), however earthy or everyday, all around the clock. Animals, bicycles, computers, exams, food, gifts, jobs, love-making, meals, parties, travel – you name it! Here are examples of an anniversary and a sleep blessing... On this your anniversary Sleep in peace, From Celtic Blessings by Ray Simpson |
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