Daily Primer — August 1, Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides — Scotland
Each day you will be given:
A Florilegium entry
A Daily Prayer
and a Night Prayer.
A Florilegium entry
A Daily Prayer
and a Night Prayer.
“‘These islands,’ he breathed with a gesture toward the North, ‘Aye, ’tis myself that is as fond of them as a mother of her baby-child, and, mind you, they are the great favorites with the Good One above us as well.’
‘Indeed,’ said I.
‘Yes,’ he went on, ‘or rather, as I should say, the greatest favorites of all. Now,’ he raised his forefinger impressively, ‘listen to what i am telling you. The Good One made the Hebrides on the eighth day.’
‘The eighth day!’ I cried, ‘ but the Bible . . .’
He waved his hand for silence. ‘The Bible is a grand book entirely, and the stories of Samson and the other noble heroes in it are warming to the heart. But mark you, lad, a man who writes a large book cannot mind everything and’ —he hummed a little at this point—‘ and, like enough, the decent man forgot about the Islands being made the eighth day. But they were, and this was the way of it. The world was finished and the Good One was mighty tired and took a rest and while he was resting, He thought, “Well I have let my earth-children see the power of my mind, in rock and mountain, and tree and wind and flower. And I have shown them the likeness of my mind, for I have made theirs like my own. And I have shown them the love of my mind, for I have made them happy, but halt,” says the Good One to Himself, “I have not shown them the beauty of my mind.” So the next day, and that was the eighth day, He takes up a handful of jewels and opens a window in the sky and throws them down into the sea. And those jewels are the Hebrides. I had the story of it from my father’s father,’ he went on. ‘An extra fine man, and terrible strong for the truth.’”
‘Indeed,’ said I.
‘Yes,’ he went on, ‘or rather, as I should say, the greatest favorites of all. Now,’ he raised his forefinger impressively, ‘listen to what i am telling you. The Good One made the Hebrides on the eighth day.’
‘The eighth day!’ I cried, ‘ but the Bible . . .’
He waved his hand for silence. ‘The Bible is a grand book entirely, and the stories of Samson and the other noble heroes in it are warming to the heart. But mark you, lad, a man who writes a large book cannot mind everything and’ —he hummed a little at this point—‘ and, like enough, the decent man forgot about the Islands being made the eighth day. But they were, and this was the way of it. The world was finished and the Good One was mighty tired and took a rest and while he was resting, He thought, “Well I have let my earth-children see the power of my mind, in rock and mountain, and tree and wind and flower. And I have shown them the likeness of my mind, for I have made theirs like my own. And I have shown them the love of my mind, for I have made them happy, but halt,” says the Good One to Himself, “I have not shown them the beauty of my mind.” So the next day, and that was the eighth day, He takes up a handful of jewels and opens a window in the sky and throws them down into the sea. And those jewels are the Hebrides. I had the story of it from my father’s father,’ he went on. ‘An extra fine man, and terrible strong for the truth.’”
Alistair Maclean, Hebridean Altars: The Spirit of an Island Race (Wipe & Stock: Eugene Oregon, 1937). Introduction xvi-xvii.
Florilegium is the Medieval Latin word for bouquet, or more literally flowers (flos, flor-) which are gathered (legere). The word florilegium was used to refer to a compilation of writings, often religious or philosophical. These florilegium are literary flowers—beautiful words/prayers/thoughts I have gathered. During my sabbatical they will give me something to ponder each day. — PHL.
Dear God, your devoted servant, Saint Finbarr led an exemplary life, demonstrating great love and the outpouring of belief that impressed the world, and added him to the role of saintly Pastors.
May we, by his intercessions, persevere in faith and love and become partakers of this glory. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May we, by his intercessions, persevere in faith and love and become partakers of this glory. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
from the liturgy of the feast day of Saint Finbarr / Barra ( Sept. 25).
Contemplation of the Cross
First Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
† When forsaken, Lord, come in mercy.
† When betrayed by someone close, Lord, come in mercy.
† When deserted by friends, Lord, come in mercy.
† When misunderstood by family, Lord, come in mercy.
† When when in pain, Lord, come in mercy.
† When at the hour of death, Lord, come in mercy.
At the close of the day I pray for a world and for my life, both of which are too often bereft of the radiance of your love. Lord, in mercy hear my confession:
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart and mind and strength. I have not loved my neighbors as I love myself.
In your mercy, Lord,
† forgive what I have been,
† give me time to amend what I am,
† and direct what I shall become, that I may come to delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name.
This redemption I am bold to seek knowing that you are the God who chooses what is foolish to shame the wise and what is weak to shame the strong. In my foolish weakness, may I yet serve you faithfully. Amen.
First Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
† When forsaken, Lord, come in mercy.
† When betrayed by someone close, Lord, come in mercy.
† When deserted by friends, Lord, come in mercy.
† When misunderstood by family, Lord, come in mercy.
† When when in pain, Lord, come in mercy.
† When at the hour of death, Lord, come in mercy.
At the close of the day I pray for a world and for my life, both of which are too often bereft of the radiance of your love. Lord, in mercy hear my confession:
I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart and mind and strength. I have not loved my neighbors as I love myself.
In your mercy, Lord,
† forgive what I have been,
† give me time to amend what I am,
† and direct what I shall become, that I may come to delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name.
This redemption I am bold to seek knowing that you are the God who chooses what is foolish to shame the wise and what is weak to shame the strong. In my foolish weakness, may I yet serve you faithfully. Amen.
Liturgy of the Hours — PHL.