From my earlier notes from the Celtic anthology I read earlier this year:<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
What is best in the world? To do the will of it’s maker. What is this will? That we should do what he has ordered, that is, that we should live in righteousness and seek devotedly what is eternal. How do we arrive at this? By study. We must therefore study devotedly and righteously. What is our best help in maintaining this study? The Intellectus, which probes everything and, finding none of the world’s goods in which it can permanently rest, is converted by reason into the one good which is eternal.<\/p>\n
-St. Colombanus, an Irish missionary who founded several Celtic rule monastaries in France and Italy in the 7th century<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
One day Maedoc and another disciple named Molaisse were sitting at the foot of two trees, and they loved each other very dearly. “Ah Jesus,” said they, “is it Thy will that we should part, or that we should remain together to the end?” Then one of the two trees fell to the south, and the other to the north. “By the fall of the trees,” said they, “it has been revealed that we must part.” Maedoc fared south, and built a monasery at Ferns, and Molaisse fared north, and built a monasery at Devenish.<\/p>\n
(From the Lives of the Irish Saints)<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Two stanzas from the Altus of Columba<\/p>\n
Ancient of Days; enthroned on high!
\nThe Father unbegotten He,
\nWhom space cantaineth not, nor time;
\nWho was, and is, and aye shall be:
\nAnd one-born Son, and Holy Ghost,
\nWho co-eternal glory share;
\nOne only God of Persons Three,
\nWe praise, acknowledge, and declare.<\/p>\n
Day of the king most rightous,
\nThe day is nigh at hand,
\nThe day of wrath and vengeance,
\nAnd darkness on the land.
\nDay of thick clouds and voices,
\nOf mighty thundering,
\nA day of narrow anguish
\nAnd bitter sorrowing.
\nThe love of women’s over,
\nAnd ended is desire,
\nMen’s strife with men is quit,
\nAnd the world lusts no more.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
A different translation of the famous poem by St. Patrick here. This is a different version than the one I usually see (the one I am teaching my kids.) This one seems more literal and not quite as good overall, but certain lines are more potent.<\/p>\n
St. Patrick’s Breastplate, or “The Deer’s Cry”<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
\nThrough belief in the threeness,
\nThrough confession of the oneness
\nOf the Creator of Creation.<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
\nThrough the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
\nThrough the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
\nThrough the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough the strength of the love of the Cherubim,
\nIn the obedience of angels,
\nIn the service of archangels,
\nIn the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,
\nIn the prayers of patriarchs,
\nIn prediction of prophets,
\nIn preaching of apostles,
\nIn faith of confessors,
\nIn innocence of holy virgins,
\nIn deeds of righteous men.<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough the strength of heaven;
\nLight of sun,
\nRadiance of moon,
\nSplendour of fire,
\nSpeed of lightning,
\nSwiftness of wind,
\nDepth of sea,
\nStability of earth,
\nFirmness of rock.<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough God’s strength to pilot me:
\nGod’s might to uphold me,
\nGod’s wisdom to guide me,
\nGod’s eye to look before me,
\nGod’s ear to hear me,
\nGod’s word to speak to me,
\nGod’s hand to guard me,
\nGod’s way to lie before me,
\nGod’s shield to protect me,
\nGod’s host to save me,<\/p>\n
From snares of devils,
\nFrom temptation of vices,
\nFrom every one who shall wish me ill,
\nAfar and anear,
\nAlone and in a multitude.
\nI summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
\nAgainst every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
\nAgainst incantations of false prophets,
\nAgainst black laws of pagandom,
\nAgainst false laws of heretics,
\nAgainst craft of idolatry,
\nAgainst spells of women and smiths and wizards,
\nAgainst every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.<\/p>\n
Christ to shield me today,
\nAgainst poising, against burning,
\nAgainst drowning, against wounding,
\nSo there come to me abundance of reward.<\/p>\n
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
\nChrist in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
\nChrist on my right, Christ on my left,
\nChrist when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
\nChrist when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
\nChrist in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
\nChrist in the eye of every one who sees me,
\nChrist in every ear that hears me.<\/p>\n
I arise today
\nThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
\nThrough belief in the threeness,
\nThrough confession of the oneness
\nOf the Creator of Creation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From my earlier notes from the Celtic anthology I read earlier this year: — What is best in the world? To do the will of it’s maker. What is this will? That we should do what he has ordered, that is, that we should live in righteousness and seek devotedly what is eternal. How do … <\/p>\n