Prayers and Poems
From ... The May-Day Blessing
Give blessing to each thing and the persons all,
Who by my side compose this my household small;
With the power of love the cross of Christ at hand,
Till we come to see the happy joyful land,
Until we behold the happy joyful land.
Thou Being who at the first didst create me,
Hearken and attend me when I bend the knee,
Morning and evening as for me it is right,
O God of all living things, in thine own sight,
Great God of all living things, in thine own sight.
From Poems of the Western Highlanders
From... The Holy Spirit
O Holy God
Of pow'r the most,
Come down upon us and subdue;
From glory's place
In heaven space,
Thy light of brilliance shed as dew...
Thy people must
In thee place trust,
God, grant diligence to do it;
Help them each hour
With sev'n fold pow'r.
Thy gift, gen'roud Holy Spirit!
From Poems of the Western Highlanders
With Pentecost/Whit Sunday in mind...
Bonaventura (1217 – 1274)
Leader
of the Franciscans after the death of their founder,
Bonaventura was learned, with a deep spirituality. From
his prayers it is clear that he saw the Christian life as
the direct reflection of the passion and resurrection of
Jesus.
For the Seven Gifts of the Spirit
Lord
Jesus, as God's Spirit came down and rested upon you, may
the same Spirit rest upon us, bestowing his sevenfold
gifts.
First,
grant us the gift of understanding, by which your
precepts may enlighten our minds.
Second,
grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your
footsteps on the path of righteousness.
Third,
grant us courage, by which we may ward off the Enemy's
attacks.
Fourth,
grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish good from
evil.
Fifth,
grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate
hearts.
Sixth,
grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and
submit to what is good.
Seventh,
grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving
sweetness of your love.
Wonders
Birdsong and wind-song
Dewdrops at dawn,
A carpet of sparkles
Laid out on the lawn.
Petals and pollen
And striped fluffy bees,
Visiting flowers
And blossoms on trees.
Starlight and moonlight
Shine from on high,
The splendour of sunrise
That flushes the sky.
Frost on the trellis
All glittering bright,
Feathers of snowflakes
That drift through the night.
Rain-clouds and rainbows
And sunflowers of gold,
Poppies of scarlet
That blaze bright and bold.
Our Father gives beauty
In which all can share,
For all of his wonders
Abound everywhere.
Kathleen Gillum
In May
In May I go a-walking to hear the linnet sing,
The blackbird and the throstle, a-praising God the King;
It cheers the heart to hear them, to see the leaves
unfold,
And the meadows scattered over with buttercups of gold.
Anon
