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Prayers for the Morning


Starting the day in prayer


Starting the day with prayer was always important to the early Christians and their prayers often invoked the presence of the Trinity - Father, Son and Spirit - to be with them through their often hard toil on the land, and it is with this thought in mind that the following prayers have been written, to herald in the new day with God at its centre!


I arise today,
embraced in the arms
of God the Father,
empowered by the strength
of God the Spirit,
immersed in the love
of God the Son.
I arise today
in the company
of the Trinity,
Father, Spirit and Son.
I arise today

 

 


 

 

In my waking and arising
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my eating and drinking
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my walking and journeying
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my working and serving
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my sowing and harvesting
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my rejoicing and sorrowing
be the first thought that enters my head.
In my resting and sleeping
be the first thought that enters my head.

 

 


 

 

I do not fear this day,
for you are with me
wherever I might go,
your light to shine ahead,
your footsteps to lead the way.
I do not fear this day,
for your word will be my guide,
your strength will sustain me,
your love revive me,
this day and all days.
I do not fear this day,
for you are with me.

 


 

This is your world I step upon,
the air I breathe,
the food I eat.


This is your world I step upon,
the sounds I hear,
the people I meet.


This is your world I step upon,
your footsteps ,
where I place my feet.

 


 


I arise today,
conscious of the forgiveness
of God the Father,
conscious of the companionship
of God the Son,
conscious of the guidance
of God the Spirit,
conscious of the unity
of the Trinity,
Three in One

 


 

Guiding God,
be with us
in our going out
and coming home,
in our journeying
and returning,
in our decision making
and organising.

Guarding God,
be with us
through the calm
and through the storm,
be our comfort
when we’re hurting,
be our helper
when we’re falling.

Gracious God,
walk with us
every moment
of this new day.

 


 

Bless this day,
this blank page
newly turned.
May its story,
once written,
bring only glory
to your name.



Bless both day and night.
Bless our travelling and arriving.
Bless our service and our sleeping.

 



May you be found today,
in unexpected places
by unsuspecting people
going about their daily lives.
May you be found today,
in predictable places
by inquisitive people
searching for a different life.
May you be found today, Lord!

 



Be thou my vision, Lord,
this day and every day,
the centre of my life,
the focus of my thoughts.
Be thou my wisdom, Lord,
the inspiration of my words,
in every situation,
Your Spirit my support.

 


 

Bless this day
all that I might see,
all that I might hear,
all that I might smell,
all that I might say.
Bless this day
all that I might serve,
all that I might comfort,
all that I might help,
all that I might guide.
Bless this day

 


 

May I arise this morning
feeling your warmth
embracing me,
conscious of your love
forgiving me,
knowing your peace
within me,
feeling your Spirit
strengthen me,
hearing your whisper
encouraging me.

 


 


In all I do
and in all I say,
may my life
this day,
and all days,
reflect
the beauty of my Lord.

 

 


 

 

May the whisper
of the Father
be the one that wakens you;
the open hand
of the Son
be the one that raises you;
the prompting
of the Spirit
be the one that sends you,
this morning
and all mornings,
and leads you safely home.

 


 

This morning,
and all mornings
as we face the day
daunted by expectations
others place upon us,
weighed down by burdens,
unsure of outcomes,
opposed,
alone,
afraid;
remind us
that you faced all this
and more,
that we might loose
these chains that bind us,
rise above and beyond
the troubles of this world,
and know peace.
To the one who has overcome
we bring our thanks and praise

 


 

 

 

 

May this be a day of hope,
of expectation,
of relishing each moment
as a gift from you.
May this be a day of freedom,
of breaking free,
of loosening the chains that
still surround us.
May this be a day of peace,
of wholeness,
of knowing that our lives
are in your hands.
May this be a day of joy,
of blessing,
of living in your kingdom
as a child of God.

 


 

 

I enter this day with joy
knowing you are with me
every step of the way,
knowing there is a purpose
to each breath that I take,
knowing there is a hope
toward which I walk.

I enter this day with faith
knowing you are the strength
which I depend on,
knowing you are the love
that is all embracing,
knowing it is your peace
which calms my soul.

I enter this day with praise
knowing that I worship
with service as with voice,
hoping that my words
might reveal your truth,
hoping that your grace
might touch another heart.


 

 

I call to you, Lord
at the dawn of this new day,
place into your hands
family and friends,
work to be done,
decisions I shall make,
obstacles I encounter,
strangers who pass my way,
the service I shall offer.

I call to you, Lord
at the dawn of this new day,
my rock and my fortress,
my strength and deliverer,
for all I am is yours,
each moment of this day
gifted to me by grace,
and offered in your name,
my offering of praise.

 


Morning Prayers from other sources


THE DEER'S CRY
Patrick sang this hymn when the ambuscades were laid
against him by King Loeguire (Leary) that he might
not go to Tara to sow the faith. Then it seemed to
those lying in ambush that he and his monks were wild
deer with a fawn, even Benen, following them. And its
name is ' Deer's Cry.'

 

I arise to-day
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of
the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

 

I arise to-day
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His
baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with
His burial.
Through the strength of His resurrection with
His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the
judgment of Doom.

 

I arise to-day
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels.
In the service of archangels.
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs.
In predictions of prophets,
In preachings of apostles.
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

 

I arise to-day
Through the strength of heaven :
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea.
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

 

I arise to day
Through God's strength to pilot me :
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils.
From temptations of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear.
Alone and in a multitude.

 

I summon to-day all these powers between me and
those evils.
Against every cruel merciless power that may
oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom.
Against false laws of heretics.
Against craft of idolatry.
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards.
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body
and soul.

 

Christ to shield me to-day
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of
reward.

 

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 he down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

 

I arise to-day
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness.
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

(from Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry, Meyer, Kuno, 1858-1919)

 


 

 

PRAYER AT RISING

(From Catherine Maclean, crofter, Naast, Gairloch)

Bless to me, O God,
Each thing mine eye sees;
Bless to me, O God,
Each sound mine ear hears;
Bless to me, O God,
Each odour that goes to my nostrils
Bless to me, O God,
Each taste that goes to my lips;
Each note that goes to my song,
Each ray that guides my way,
Each thing that I pursue.
Each lure that tempts my will,
The zeal that seeks my living soul.
The Three that seek my heart,
The zeal that seeks my living soul,
The Three that seek my heart.

(from Carmina Cadelica)

 


 

I arise to-day :
might of Heaven
brightness of Sun
whiteness of Snow
splendour of Fire
speed of Light
swiftness of Wind
depth of Sea
stability of Earth
firmness of Rock.

I arise to-day :
Might of God
Power of God
Wisdom of God
Eye of God
Ear of God
Word of God
Hand of God
Path of God
Shield of God
Host of God

(from The Book of Cerne, 9th C)

 


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