to those sitting here speed!
Hail to you, Gods! Hail, Goddesses!
Hail, earth that gives to all!
Goodly spells and speech bespeak we from you,
and healing hands, in this life.
- The Poetic Edda—the Lay of Sigrdrifa, 600 AD
Prayer to St. Joseph the Protector
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong,
so prompt before the Throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.
O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession
and obtain for me from your Divine Son
all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;
so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power
I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage
to the most Loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms.
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me,
and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls,
pray for us.
Amen.
- Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of the Dying, 100 AD
Celtic Prayer for Protection
Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.
Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.
The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonor and lies.
Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.
Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.
- Celtic Oral Tradition, 800 AD
A Prayer for All Prisoners
Abba Father, Loving God, our hope and our salvation
—Calm us –
Give us the assurance of your presence
—Empty us –
Make us pure vessels of your love
—Polish us –
Shine each of us to be a reflection of your grace
—Equip us –
Arm all of us, Father, to be your strong warriors.
Right now, today,
We are yours and we are thankful.
Amen.
- C. Lee Davis of the Prison Ministry
Fare Thee Well
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
- Irish Blessing
Prayer for Acceptance
O! Thou God of all beings, of all worlds, and of all times,
We pray that the little differences in our clothes,
in our inadequate languages,
in our ridiculous customs,
in our imperfect laws,
in our illogical opinions,
in our ranks and conditions which
are so disproportionately important to us
and so meaningless to you,
that these small variations
that distinguish those atoms that we call men,
one from another,
may not be signals of hatred and persecution!
- Voltaire, 1756
With a Strong Heart and a Cheerful Will
Almighty Father
whose way is in the sea
and whose paths are in the great waters
whose command is over all and whose love never faileth:
Let me be aware of Thy presence
and obedient to Thy will.
Keep me true to my best self
guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and in deed,
and helping me so to live
that I can stand unashamed and unafraid before my shipmates,
my loved ones, and Thee.
Protect those in whose love I live.
Give me the will to
