A Morning Prayer

St Patrick’s Day

2018

 

 

 

 

 

Christ be near at either hand. Christ behind, before me stand.
Christ with me where’er I go. Christ around, above, below.

Christ be in my heart and mind. Christ within my soul enshrined,
Christ control my wayward heart. Christ abide and ne’er depart.

Christ my life and only way. Christ my lantern night and day.
Christ be my unchanging friend. Guide and shepherd to the end.

Praise the Father, source of all love! Praise the Son, who reigns above!
Praise Holy Spirit, comfort in need! Praise on our lips, in our hearts and our deeds!

 

A short Reading from The Confession of St Patrick

I saw in a vision of the night a man who seemed to be coming from Ireland, carrying many letters. His name was Victorinus.
He gave one of them to me and I read the opening lines, which were, ‘The voice of the Irish.’
While I was reading I thought I heard the voices of the people who live by the wood of Voclut, which is by the western sea.
They cried as with one voice, ‘We ask you, son, to come and walk once more among us.’ I was heart-broken at this, and could read no further,
and so I woke up.
Years later, thanks be to God, the Lord granted them what they had asked.
So it came about that Ireland, a land filled with people who never had the knowledge of God,
but worshipped idols and other foul objects, now had a people of the Lord who are called the children of God.

 

Let us pray

Father of us all,
by whose providence the blessed Patrick
was chosen to be the apostle of the Irish
so that they might become children of the Most High God,
grant that with his prayers,
we may all be bearers of the Good News
and living witnesses in all the churches
to your love for the whole human family
and your care for all of creation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 

Ps 138: I thank you for the wonder of my being, I thank you.

O Lord, you search me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.
I thank you for the wonder of my being, I thank you.

 

For it was you who created me,
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you for the wonder, the wonder of my being.
All my ways lie open to you.
I thank you for the wonder of my being, I thank you.

 

Already you knew my soul,
my body held no secrets from you when I was being fashioned secretly
and moulded in the depths of the earth.
All my ways lie open to you.
I thank you for the wonder of my being, I thank you.

 

 

A reading from the Prophet Jeremiah 1:4-9

 

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak,
for I am only a youth.”
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, `I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”
Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth;
and the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

 

The Benedictus: verse 1

 

Blest be the Lord the God of Israel,
who came to us; and brought us back from sin.
God raised for us a Saviour who is mighty,
his Saviour-Son from David’s house and line.
God promised this through holy men and women
who spoke for him down through the mists of time.

 

Intercessions

 

As we honour St Patrick, we revere holy men and women
in whom the goodness of God blazes out in splendour.
We pray that the world may be illuminated in our day
by such goodness and example.
Lord, hear us.

 

We pray that our country
may be one in which everyone matters
and everyone has an honoured place.
Lord, hear us.

 

We pray for peace throughout the world,
for the victims of violence and war,

For the hungry and neglected.
Lord, hear us

 

We pray that the power of God may heal the sick,
renew hope of eternal life in the dying,
comfort the bereaved, and welcome the dead
into the kingdom of light and joy.
Lord, hear us

 

 The Lord’s Prayer

 

The Blessing:

 

I arise today
In the might of heaven
Brightness of sun,
whiteness of snow
Splendour of fire,
speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind,
depth of sea
Stability of earth,
firmness of rock.
God’s legions to save me
To protect me
From snares of the demons
From evil enticements
From failings of nature
From one man or many
That seek to destroy me
Nearby or afar.

 

May the God of hope fill us with every joy in believing.
Amen

May the peace of Christ abound in our hearts.
Amen

May the Holy Spirit enrich us with the great gifts

Now and for ever.
Amen.

 

 

 

Copyrights and acknowledgements: Celtic Invocation; words from the literary executors of Canon J Fennelly. Words of verse 4 & music (c) Noel Donnelly Calamus.  Collect based on a prayer from the Breviary of Armagh. Psalm 138: Words ã The Grail. Music of Ps 138 ã Gerry Fitzpatrick. Version of the Benedictus (verse 1) © Stephen E Smyth FMS. Graphics © Netta Ewing and from the CD “Liturgical Graphics.”
Music reproduced under licence: Calamus lic: 0262 and CCL lic no: 74396