Celtic Prayers for Lent in Honor of Saint Patrick

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 PrayerOh King of the WoundsWho wast crucified on the tree,Thy breast and Thy sideThe Blind One so pierced on TheeThat the blood from Thy sideWas a curdling tide to seeOh, under Thy wingTo 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 CalvaryO Tree of Calvary,send Thy roots deep downinto 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 networkof Thy love.

Chandran Devanesen

Be Thou My VisionBe 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 sonThou 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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