Irish Heritage

     The Irish are known for many things, among them their gift for wry humor and achingly beautiful poetry. The Irish have also contributed some of the loveliest blessings to the 

canon of poetic liturgy. With St. Patrick's Day fast approaching, I thought I might share 

a gem or two...beginning with a little levity, of course.

If God sends you down a stony path, 

may He give you strong shoes.

Bless those tending cattle

And those minding sheep,

And those fishing the sea,

While the rest of us sleep.

Source: quietpastime.tumblr.com via Cindi on Pinterest

May the frost never afflict your spuds,

May the leaves of your cabbage always be free of worms,

May the crows never find your haystack,

And if you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.

Source: manyfor.com via Lacey on Pinterest

Cradle Song

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,

All through the night

Guardian angels God will tend thee,

All through the night

Soft and drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

Mother dear her watch is keeping,

All through the night

God is here, you'll not be lonely,

All through the night

'Tis not I who guards thee only,

All through the night

Night's dark shades will soon be over,

Still my watchful care will hover,

God with me His tender watch is keeping,

All through the night

Source: iamachild.wordpress.com via louise on Pinterest

Prayer from St. Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be with me

Christ before me

Christ behind me

Christ in me

Christ beneath me

Christ above me

Christ on my right

Christ on my left

Christ where I lie

Christ where I sit

Christ where I arise

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me

Christ in every eye that sees me

Christ in every ear that hears me

Salvation is of the Lord

Source: hendersondesigns.tumblr.com via Terri on Pinterest

And perhaps the best known and loved of all

The Traditional Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you

And may the wind always be at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

And rain soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Source: irelandscape.com via Sandra on Pinterest

And here are some landscape treasures from the very lovely Eire to give you pause

Source: blog.discoverireland.com via Sharon on Pinterest

Source: thejournal.ie via Martin on Pinterest

Source: travel925.com via travel925.com on Pinterest

Source: trekearth.com via Alyssa on Pinterest