Celtic Spirituality

I am....

I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Shepherd Me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.

God is my shepherd,
so nothing shall I want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.

Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.

Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.

You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred
crowning me with love beyond my power to hold.

Surely your kindness and mercy follow me
all the days of my life.
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.

I AM THE GATE
May the cross of the Son of God,
which is mightier than all the hosts of Satan
and more glorious than all the hosts of heaven,
abide with you in your going out and in your coming in.
By day and by night, at morning and at evening,
at all times and in all places may it protect and defend you.
From the wrath of evildoers, from the assaults of evil spirits,
from foes visible and invisible, from the snares of the devil,
from all passions that beguile the soul and body:
may it guard, protect and deliver you.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
We can be intelligent, healthy, rich, and religious and it would be meaningless without bread. The most pious saint is still dependent on bread. So this prayer is an admission of a great need. No man can eat intelligence. We cannot eat money; we cannot eat the Bible and survive.
"Give us this day our daily bread"

I AM THE TRUE VINE
As the grain once scattered in the fields and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited in the Lord's Supper,
so, Lord, may all your Church soon be gathered together from the corners of the earth
into your kingdom.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
Who creates the fruit of the vine
Who made all things exist through His word

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
THE GUIDING LIGHT OF ETERNITY
O God, who broughtst me from the rest of last night
Unto the joyous light of this day,
Be Thou bringing me from the new light of this day
Unto the guiding light of eternity.
Oh! from the new light of this day
Unto the guiding light of eternity.
THE LIGHTENER OF THE STARS
Behold the Lightener of the stars
On the crests of the clouds,
And the choralists of the sky
Lauding Him.
Coming down with acclaim
From the Father above,
Harp and lyre of song
Sounding to Him.
Christ, Thou refuge of my love,
Why should not I raise Thy fame!
Angels and saints melodious
Singing to Thee.
O Christ my beloved,
O Christ of the Holy Blood,
By day and by night
I praise Thee.

I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Lord, you said that you are the way. Help us no longer to walk side by side in indifference. We need courage to leave behind our selfishness and walk on the way to unity. May our differences only bring mutual enrichment on the journey, for the glory of your name.
Lord, you said that you are the truth. Make us then attentive to your truth. Only in this way shall we be ready to hear what the Spirit is saying to us today and to share it for the salvation of the world. May we be gathered together in your truth from every corner of the earth, to the glory of your name.
Lord, you said that you are the life. Guide all of us to find your life in its fullness. May our lives be a visible expression of the life of Jesus - for the salvation of the world and the glory of your name.

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Let us look to Jesus
The pioneer and perfector of our faith.
Jesus Christ, we look upon your cross.
We come to you and stand before your cross.
Your cross is showing us the way.
Your cross points the way from separation to unity,
because you sacrificed yourself for all of us.
Your cross points the way from death to life,
because you defeated death for ever.
Your cross points the way from sadness to joy.
Your resurrection calls us to rejoice in a joy that no one can take from us.
Jesus Christ, you are the resurrection and the life. We worship you.