Saint Patrick was a Brit, but he prayed as a Celt. He ministered as a Celt. He lived as a Celt. His legacy is what we call Celtic Christianity.
Patrick began a movement that spread across Europe, building a spiritual legacy of godly passion, art, and faith. (Click here for more information on this early movement.)
It being Saint Patrick’s Day soon, and celebratin’ Lent as well, it seems proper to take brief look at Calvary through the eyes of Celtic Christians. *spoken in my best Irish accent* Here are four prayers for your consideration:
An ancient Celtic Prayer
Oh King of the Wounds
Who wast crucified on the tree,
Thy breast and Thy side
The Blind One so pierced on Thee
That the blood from Thy side
Was a curdling tide to see
Oh, under Thy wing
To paradise bring Thou me.
O Jesus of the Scars
If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
we must have sight of thorn pricks on Thy brow;
we must have Thee, O Jesus of the scars.
Edward Shillito
Written towards the end of WWI
O Tree of Calvary
O Tree of Calvary,
send Thy roots deep down
into my heart.
Gather together the soil of my heart,
the sands of my fickleness,
the stones of my stubbornness,
the mud of my desires;
bind them all together,
O Tree of Calvary;
interlace them with Thy strong roots;
entwine them with the network
of Thy love.
Chandran Devanesen
Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught is all else to me, save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought, by day and by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word,
I ever with Thee, Thou with me Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy dear son
Thou in me dwelling, I with Thee one.
One of the oldest Celtic hymns
Now it’s your turn: What old hymn, prayer, or poem captures your heart and brings you back to your spiritual roots?
Susan Gaddis, Helping you build a spiritual legacy
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My go-to hymn is this one:
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changeth not, thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
My favorite hymn and that is saying a lot because I know more hymns than I do praise songs of this generation. Grew up on hymns and while I was chasing my musical dream of being a rock star these songs would run thru my head as I soaked in sex, drugs, and alchohol. Funny how God never really left my side even as I was ignoring him.
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.