We arise today
Through God’s shelter to steady us —
God’s hope to lead us, God’s wisdom calm us,
God’s eye to find the smallest home from school,
God’s ear to hear the oldest afraid to go out,
God’s word in our prayers,
God’s hands in our washing,
God’s way in our cancelling,
God’s shield in our quarantine,
God’s saints to remind us, long ago and now,
when we are alone or among others.
Christ hear our cry, like the cry of the deer today
against the passage of this illness.
Christ be with each of us
that we may become a community.
Christ before us when we are tempted to hoard,
Christ behind all who seek a vaccine,
Christ in those who care for the sick,
Christ beneath those who have lost their work,
Christ above those who are grieving.
Christ in China, Christ in Italy,
Christ in Iran, Christ in South Korea,
Christ in Washington, New York, California.
Christ across all the globe
and Christ in every neighborhood.
Christ on the right hand of loss,
Christ on the left hand of recovery.
Christ in the heart of everyone filled with fear,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks comfort,
Christ in the eyes that notice a need for help,
Christ in the ear that listens to a neighbor.
We arise today through a mighty strength
to live as God’s people in a time of pandemic.
Often called The Cry of the Deer or St. Patrick’s Breastplate this prayer is attributed to one of Ireland’s most beloved patron saints whose special day is March 17. Many versions have varying length. I have taken the shortest and most simple for today. According to tradition, St. Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for protection.
As always Maren, you capture my thoughts and my heart in your words. Thank you.
Thank you so very much!
Always your words call us to see more, be more, do more to be what we were called to be with one another from the beginning. “It is not good that humankind should be alone…” And thus we were called into being to become helpmates for one another. Thank you for reminding me.
Thank you so very much. Words and art and photography and dance, too (though I have two left feet) bind us together.
Thank God for your inspiration…prayers, poems, and person.
These words are so, so needed…
Thank you so much!
powerful,powerful powerful we need this Amen
We are in a terrible time — thank you for lighting a candle.
Beautiful
Thank you so very much.
Thank you Maren.
I used this in our midweek ecumenical Lenten service last night.
It so happened that we had relocated to St Patrick’s Catholic Church because the Methodist Church is undergoing renovations, and the usable worship space too small to ensure social distancing.
Grace and peace in these troubled times.
Lynne
Lynne,
I am so glad and it is wonderful to hear from you. I tried emailing you several times from the book email and no success — it must be spam now. I will be in touch from my gmail account mctirabassi@gmail.com!
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Blessings on your service.