Tag: Celtic Daily Prayers

The 5th Day of Christmas: 29 Dec – 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35 – a light to the nations

The 5th Day of Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences:

Give thanks with joy to the Father, who has rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the Kingdom of His dear Son.

A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for His people Israel.

Christ is born for us; come let us adore Him.

A Reading from Letters: 1 John 2:3-11

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment — to love one another — is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

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If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.”

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:22-35 (NLT)

Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord — “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek and all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Feast of St John: 27 Dec – 1 John 1:1-4; John 20:1-8 ~ share our Joy

The Feast of St John

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences:

John bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, by telling everything he had seen.

We praise You, O God, we acclaim You as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise You.

They told of Your glory and might and the wonders that You had performed.

A Reading from Letters: 1 John 1:1-4

Peter and John Running to the Tomb Eugène Burnand, 1898 Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Peter and John Running to the Tomb
Eugène Burnand, 1898
Musée d’Orsay, Paris

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

A Reading from the Gospels: John 20:1-8 (NLT)

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed.
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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek and all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Feast of St Stephen: 26 Dec – Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 ~ the cost of celebrating Christmas

The Feast of St Stephen

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences:

Yesterday the Lord was born on earth, that Stephen might be born in heaven; He entered into the world, that Stephen might enter into heaven.

Save Your people, Lord, and bless Your inheritance; govern and uphold us, now and always.

Let Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your kindness.

A Reading from Acts: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

St. Stephen from The Demidoff Altarpiece Carlo Crivelli, 1476 The National Gallery, London
St. Stephen from The Demidoff Altarpiece
Carlo Crivelli, 1476
The National Gallery, London

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
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The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 10:17-22 (NLT)

But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking — it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
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Prayer

Give us grace, Lord, to follow You wherever You lead. Teach us to love our enemies as we keep the feast of Saint Stephen, who prayed even for the men who stoned him to death. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Blessing:

And may the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Christmas Morning: 25 Dec – Luke 2:15-20 ~ something to think about / something to talk about

Christmas Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Christ is born for us; O come, let us adore Him.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 2:15-20 (NLT)

"Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622 Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany
“Adoration of the Shepherds” by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
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Canticle

Let the light of Christ in our hearts shine through all that we do or say.

Jesus Christ is born!

Blessing:

May the Lord bless us and protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 24 Dec – Luke 1:67-79 ~ the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us

First Day Before Christmas

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences:

The Lord is close at hand: come let us worship him.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Today you will know that the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 1:67-79 (NLT)

Photo of the Tower of David, David's Citadel, מגדל דוד, Migdal David, taken at dawn. Jerusalem Israel.
Photo of the Tower of David, David’s Citadel, מגדל דוד, Migdal David, taken at dawn. Jerusalem Israel.

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant — the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
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Canticle

Lord, let your lovingkindness be upon me – your salvation as you promised.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Tomorrow the sin of the world will be taken away, and the Savior of the world will reign over us, and he will take away all weakness.

Blessing:

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen