Marcus Curnow
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Funeral: Celtic Blessing
February 01, 2005
I was blessed to assist this last week in the funeral of Jan Lacey; Aunty of my colleauge Chris and a passionate educator, activist and Bob Dylan fan. The benediction was an appropriately Irish blessing from John O'Donohue's "Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom for the Celtic World" (1997, Bantam)
A Blessing for Death
I pray that you will have the blessing of being consoled and sure about your own death.
May you know in your soul that there is no need to be afraid.
When your time comes, may you be given every blessing and shelter that you need.
May there be a beautiful welcome for you in the home that you are going to.
You are not going somewhere strange.
You are going back to the home that you never left.
May you have a wonderful urgency to live your life to the full.
May you live compassionately and creatively and transfigure everything that is negative within you and about you.
When you come to die may it be after a long life.
May you be peaceful and happy and in the presence of those who really care for you.
May your going be sheltered and your welcome assured.
May your soul smile in the embrace of your anam cara (soul friend).
More Celtic Funeral Prayers below:
These are from Ray Simpson's "Celtic Blessings for everyday life: Prayers for every occasion (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1998). Ray is Guardian of The Community of Aidan and Hilda, Northumbria.
Father , I place N....into your hands;
Acknowledge a sheep of your own fold,
A lamb of your own flock,
A sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold N.....in the arms of your mercy,
In the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
And in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Traditional
Go forth upon your journey from this world,
In the Name of God the Father who created you;
In the Name of Jesus Christ who died for you;
IN the Name of the Holy Spirit who shines through you;
In friendship with God's saints;
Aided by the holy angels.
May you rest this day in
the peace and love of your eternal home.
Traditional adapted
May you be as free as the wind
As soft as sheeps wool
As straight as a arrow
That you may journey into the heart of God.
If the deceased person had been baptised:
May you who were baptised N.....
now be immersed into the life of God: (sprinkling water over coffin)
Into the presence of the Creator I immerse you
Into the presence of the Saviour I immerse you
Into the presence of the Spirit I immerse you
May kindly Michael, chief of the holy angels,
Take charge of you beloved soul
And tenderly bring it home
To the Three of limitless love:
Creator, Saviour, Eternal Life-giver
Posted by marcus at February 1, 2005 08:31 PM
Comments
I have been asked to conduct a funeral on Thursday 21st April and to use some Celtic or Gaelic prayers and a committal that does not use the 'earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust' wording. Is there anyone out there that can help? PLease email me direct on
roger@recornish.freeserve.co.uk
Many thanks
RevRog
Posted by: RevRog at April 19, 2005 07:59 AM
Celtic Commital:
Minister : Sure in the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ and trusting in the grace and compassion of God, we now commit his/her body to the ground/ to be cremated. Eternal God who scatters the stars into the blackness of space, who watches when the smallest sparrow falls, who knows the wonder of joy and the agony of despair, and who delights in all that he has made, we give our loved one into your care.
Reader 1: Jesus said, 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 KJV)
Reader 2: 'Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.' (Matthew 28:20 KJV)
I got this from Pat Robsons "A Celtic Liturgy" (Harper Collins, London, 2000) which I picked up when I visted her church, St. Enoders whilst in Cornwall in 2000.
Posted by: marx kernow at April 24, 2005 01:05 PM
I love the Celtic funeral posts. Do you have anything or know of anything appropriate for a Celtic Christmas service - prayers, calls to worship, etc. Time is of the essence. Appreciate any help you can give me.
Pat
Posted by: Pat Clark at December 11, 2006 10:20 AM
