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Celtic Prayers: A Book of Celtic Devotion, Daily Prayers and Blessings
In this beautiful and inspirational devotional, Robert Van de Weyer has gathered together prayers from the Celtic Christian tradition that can be used at any hour of the day.
72 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 18, 2016
Love the art and the prayers!
August 20, 2018
Rescued, during a current revisiting of an interest in Celtic prayer, from a nearly 20-year languishing on my bookshelf. There are a scattering of gems here and the book is beautifully presented, though the prayers and images (the bibliography at the end notwithstanding) carry no references... who? in which Celtic language? where? when?
The internet came to my aid on one occasion when my curiosity refused to be quelled. For your edification, here's the original Irish text of Columba's Rock (p19), with (a more edgy) translation:
1. Aoibhinn dom bheith air cnoc oileáin
Ar barr carraige
Go bhféacha mé minic ar an fharraige ciúin.
Delightful to me to be on an island hill,
on the crest of a rock,
that I might often watch the quiet sea.
2. Go bhféacha mé na dtonnta troma
Os cionn an t-uisce geal mar canann siad
Ceol chig a n-Athair go síoraí.
That I might watch the heavy waves
above the bright water, as they chant
music to their Father everlastingly.
3. Go bhféacha mé dtrá mín geal-chiumhaiseach,
Ní caitheamh aimsire dorcha go gcloise mé glór
na néan iasachta, glór taitneamhach é.
That I might watch its smooth, bright-bordered shore,
no gloomy pastime, that I might hear the cry
of the strange birds, a pleasing sound.
4. Go gcloise mé crónán na dtonnta fada
in aghaidh na gcarraigeacha, go gcloise mé
glór an fharraige mar chaoineadh ar taobh uaigh.
That I might hear the murmur of the long waves
against the rocks, that I might hear
the sound of the sea, like mourning beside a grave.
5. Go bhféacha mé na b-ealtaí é go hiontach
Os cionn na farraige lán d'uisce, go bhféacha mé
a míolta mora laidre, an t-iontas is mó.
That I might watch the splendid flocks of birds
over the well-watered sea, that I might see
its mighty whales, the greatest wonder.
6. Go bhféacha mé a thrá's tuile ina nimeacht
Go raibh mar ainm orm - sé rún a n-innsím -
"Séisean a chas a chúl ar Eirinn."
That I might watch its ebb and flood in their course,
that my name should be - it is a secret that I tell -
"he who turned his back upon Ireland."
The internet came to my aid on one occasion when my curiosity refused to be quelled. For your edification, here's the original Irish text of Columba's Rock (p19), with (a more edgy) translation:
1. Aoibhinn dom bheith air cnoc oileáin
Ar barr carraige
Go bhféacha mé minic ar an fharraige ciúin.
Delightful to me to be on an island hill,
on the crest of a rock,
that I might often watch the quiet sea.
2. Go bhféacha mé na dtonnta troma
Os cionn an t-uisce geal mar canann siad
Ceol chig a n-Athair go síoraí.
That I might watch the heavy waves
above the bright water, as they chant
music to their Father everlastingly.
3. Go bhféacha mé dtrá mín geal-chiumhaiseach,
Ní caitheamh aimsire dorcha go gcloise mé glór
na néan iasachta, glór taitneamhach é.
That I might watch its smooth, bright-bordered shore,
no gloomy pastime, that I might hear the cry
of the strange birds, a pleasing sound.
4. Go gcloise mé crónán na dtonnta fada
in aghaidh na gcarraigeacha, go gcloise mé
glór an fharraige mar chaoineadh ar taobh uaigh.
That I might hear the murmur of the long waves
against the rocks, that I might hear
the sound of the sea, like mourning beside a grave.
5. Go bhféacha mé na b-ealtaí é go hiontach
Os cionn na farraige lán d'uisce, go bhféacha mé
a míolta mora laidre, an t-iontas is mó.
That I might watch the splendid flocks of birds
over the well-watered sea, that I might see
its mighty whales, the greatest wonder.
6. Go bhféacha mé a thrá's tuile ina nimeacht
Go raibh mar ainm orm - sé rún a n-innsím -
"Séisean a chas a chúl ar Eirinn."
That I might watch its ebb and flood in their course,
that my name should be - it is a secret that I tell -
"he who turned his back upon Ireland."
March 2, 2023
This is a wonderful devotion, to be read in one sitting, as I did, or a little at a time. The focus is on God, & His presence in every aspect of life, with no distinction between the holy & profane (in that even in the profane, God is there, & we can worship Him regardless of where we are or what we are doing).
The illuminated designs & images are lovely, & the various prayers & poems nurture the soul.
The illuminated designs & images are lovely, & the various prayers & poems nurture the soul.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews