Our St. Brigid celebration was held yesterday, in anticipation of her feast day on Wednesday, February 1st. I invite you to add your intentions to ours, through the same intercessions that were a part of the evening.
Radiant St. Brigid, most excellent of women,
Sparkling flame of gold,
Lead us to that eternal kingdom,
Dazzling, brilliant as the sun.
St. Brigid, patroness of the hearth and of the forge:
Pray for us.
Compassionate St. Brigid, woman of hospitality,
Create in us a holy space
To receive gracefully, to give generously,
To welcome God’s gracious people
Into the wellspring of our hearts.
St. Brigid, patroness of healers and of travelers:
Pray for us.
Courageous St. Brigid, woman of unfailing generosity,
Stir up in our hearts a desire for peace, a love for justice.
Inspire us to be advocates for reconciliation in the face of conflict,
and stir in us the fortitude to speak for the poor,
who have no voice among the powerful of the world.
St. Brigid, patroness of poets and scholars:
Pray for us.
I close with the prayer of the co-patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick – “A Deer’s Cry”:
I arise today through the strength of heaven
Light of sun, radiance of moon,
splendour of fire, speed of lightning,
swiftness of wind, depth of the sea,
stability of the earth, firmness of rock.
I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me from all who shall wish me ill afar and a near,
alone and in a multitude.
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul.
Christ with me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ to shield me,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
I arise today.
God Bless!
Kurt
