Daily Primer — August 3, Isle of Uist, 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.
Rune of Hospitality
I saw a stranger yesterday;
I put food in the eating place,
Drink in the drinking place,
Music in the listening place;
And, in the sacred name of the Triune-God,
He blessed me and my house,
My cattle and my dear ones.
And, as the lark says in her song,
“Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise:
Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.”
I saw a stranger yesterday;
I put food in the eating place,
Drink in the drinking place,
Music in the listening place;
And, in the sacred name of the Triune-God,
He blessed me and my house,
My cattle and my dear ones.
And, as the lark says in her song,
“Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise:
Often, often, often,
Goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.”
Taken from The Road to the Isles: Poetry, Lore, & Tradition of the Hebrides collected by Kenneth Macleod, p.25. (published in Edinburgh in 1933).
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.
May the everlasting God shield you,
east and west and wherever you go.
And the blessing of God be upon you.
The Blessing of the God of life.
The blessing of Christ be upon you,
The blessing of the Christ of love.
The blessing of the Spirit be upon you,
The blessing of the Spirit of grace.
The blessing of the Trinity be upon you.
Now and forevermore.
Amen.
east and west and wherever you go.
And the blessing of God be upon you.
The Blessing of the God of life.
The blessing of Christ be upon you,
The blessing of the Christ of love.
The blessing of the Spirit be upon you,
The blessing of the Spirit of grace.
The blessing of the Trinity be upon you.
Now and forevermore.
Amen.
Iona Abbey Worship Book, blessing for Sunday morning worship, p. 46.
Lord God, you are the One who calls —
† sometimes with a word in the night,
† sometimes in an ominous silence,
† sometimes with the direction “follow me,”
† and sometimes by the restlessness of spiritual longing.
Your call asks of us that we be pilgrims — sojourners in unfamiliar circumstances. You say, “Leave your father’s house and your kindred and your country and go,” and to all that enslaves us, “Let my people go!” And yet, we leave the brickyards of Egypt double-minded. It is a half-life we leave behind - but it is a familiar half-life. We are afraid in the wilderness wandering which lies between our half-life and the new life which you offer. Summon us again, Lord, to sojourn with you by the comforting words, “I am with you,” and “You have only to be still and see my salvation.”
As we enter into the hours of rest, we pause to offer you our glad thanksgiving for the blessings of this day. Where we have discerned your will and found courage to follow it, may we feel your consolation. Where we have been hard-hearted and stiff-necked and refused to follow in your way, may we learn from your desolations. As we entrust all we love into your mercy, may we, in our sleep, enter into that deeper communion with you which restores us to health. † In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
† sometimes with a word in the night,
† sometimes in an ominous silence,
† sometimes with the direction “follow me,”
† and sometimes by the restlessness of spiritual longing.
Your call asks of us that we be pilgrims — sojourners in unfamiliar circumstances. You say, “Leave your father’s house and your kindred and your country and go,” and to all that enslaves us, “Let my people go!” And yet, we leave the brickyards of Egypt double-minded. It is a half-life we leave behind - but it is a familiar half-life. We are afraid in the wilderness wandering which lies between our half-life and the new life which you offer. Summon us again, Lord, to sojourn with you by the comforting words, “I am with you,” and “You have only to be still and see my salvation.”
As we enter into the hours of rest, we pause to offer you our glad thanksgiving for the blessings of this day. Where we have discerned your will and found courage to follow it, may we feel your consolation. Where we have been hard-hearted and stiff-necked and refused to follow in your way, may we learn from your desolations. As we entrust all we love into your mercy, may we, in our sleep, enter into that deeper communion with you which restores us to health. † In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Liturgy of the Hours — PHL.