Matins

1

Somewhere, out at the edges, the night
Is turning and the waves of darkness
Beging to brighten the shore of dawn.

The heavy dark falls back to earth
And the freed air goes wild with light,
The heart fills with fresh, bright breath
And thoughts stir to give birth to colour.

2
I arise today

In the name of Silence,
Womb of the Word,
In the name of Stillness,
Home of Belonging,
In the name of the Solitude
Of the Soul and the Earth.

I arise today

Blessed by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of health,
Embrace of God.

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,
Clear in word,
Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought,
Generous in love.

- John O'Donohue (1956-2008) Irish poet, philosopher, author, environmental activitist, popularizer of Celtic Spirituality, and Roman Catholic priest (1979-2000).

Prayer of St. Cuthbert

Softly as the dew-fall of heaven, 

may the Holy Spirit come upon me 

to aid me and to raise me,
to bind my prayer firmly
at the throne of the King of life.

God’s will would I do, 

my own will bridle;
God’s due would I give, 

my own due yield;
God’s path would I travel.

my own path refuse.

All whom I love,
into Your safe keeping;
all that I am,
into Your tender care;
all that will be,
into Your perfect will.

Amen.

--St. Cuthbert of Landisfarne (450-523), whose day is today.

Prayer of Commitment

In the true faith may we remain;
in Jesus may we find hope;
against exploitation of the poor may we help;
against our faults may we fight,
our bad habits abandon;
the name of our neighbor may we defend;
in the world of mercy may we advance;
those in misery may we help;
every danger of sin may we avoid;
in holy charity may we grow strong;
in the well of grace of confession may we wash;
may we deserve the help of the saints,
the friendship our brother Cuthbert win.

Amen.

--from Celtic Daily Prayer, Book One: The Journey Begins, from prayers relating to Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-687), p. 301.


Image: illustration from Bede's Life of St. Cuthbert, another monk of Landisfarne who was a missionary to the Picts.

Prayer of Abandonment into God

Softly as the dew-fall of heaven,

may the Holy Spirit come upon me

to aid me and to raise me,

to bind my prayer firmly

at the throne of the King of life.

God's will would I do,

my own will bridle;

God's due would I give,

my own due yield;

God's path

would I travel

my own path refuse.

All whom I love,

into Your safe keeping;

all that I am,

into your tender care;

all that will be,

into your perfect will.

Amen.

-- from Celtic Daily Prayer, Book One: The Journey Begins, from prayers relating to Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-687), pp. 297-298. Cuthbert's feast day in today, March 20.

Image: Castle on Holy Isle of Landisfarne.