Irish Prayers and Blessings

Irish Marriage Blessing

May God be with you and bless you.

May you see your children's children.

May you be poor in misfortunes

and rich in blessings.

May you know nothing but happiness

from this day forward.

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A Gaelic Christening Blessing

Dearest Father in Heaven,

Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.

Smile upon this child

And surround this child, Lord,

With the soft mantle of your love.

Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,

And to live life in the ways of

Love, faith, hope and charity.

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers—

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours—

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

An Irish Prayer

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

An Old Cradle Song

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,

All through the night

Guardian angels God will lend 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 shall hover,

God with me His watch is keeping,

All through the night

Remembered Joy

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free!

I follow the plan God laid for me.

I saw His face, I heard His call,

I took His hand and left it all...

I could not stay another day,

To love, to laugh, to work or play;

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

And if my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...

Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.

My life's been full, I've savoured much:

Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—

Don't shorten yours with undue grief.

Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,

Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

An Old Celtic Blessing

May the blessing of light be on you

light without and light within.

May the blessed sunlight shine on you

and warm your heart

till it glows like a great peat fire.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.

I am the thousand winds that blow...

I am the diamond glints on snow...

I am the sunlight on ripened grain...

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you waken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of gentle birds in circling flight...

I am the soft star that shines at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there... I did not die...

Bless This House

Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.

Make it safe by night and day.

Bless these walls so firm and stout,

Keeping want and trouble out.

Bless the roof and chimney tall,

Let thy peace lie over all.

Bless the doors that they may prove

Ever open to joy and love.

Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.

Bless the hearth a-blazing there,

With smoke ascending like a prayer.

Bless the people here within...

Keep them pure and free from sin.

Bless us all, that one day, we

May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

In Times of Sorrow...

May you see God's light on the path ahead

When the road you walk is dark.

May you always hear,

Even in your hour of sorrow,

The gentle singing of the lark.

When times are hard may hardness

Never turn your heart to stone,

May you always remember

when the shadows fall—

You do not walk alone.

A Blessing for Fair Day

God be with them now, and
bring them home with their fair share of stock or money.

From Saint 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.

Said in the morning when rising...

Christ be with me,

be after me,
be before me,
and be at my right and left hand.
May everything I do be for Christ.

Said when dressing...
Lord, clothe me with the robes of innocence.

Said during thunder and lightning...

O Lord, be between us and harm
and protect us from the harm of the world.

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Miscellaneous Blessings:

May the saddest day of your future be no worse Than the happiest day of your past. May the roof above us never fall in. And may the friends gathered below it never fall out. May you have warm words on a cold evening, A full moon on a dark night, And the road downhill all the way to your door. May there be a generation of children On the children of your children. May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live. May the Lord keep you in His hand And never close His fist too tight. May your neighbors respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you, And heaven accept you. May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. May God be with you and bless you, May you see your children's children, May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness From this day forward. May you always have work for your hands to do. May your pockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Always remember to forget The friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember Those that have stuck by you. Always remember to forget The troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember The blessings that come each day. May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. Always remember to forget The things that made you sad. But never forget to remember The things that made you glad. May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, May good luck pursue you each morning and night. Walls for the wind, And a roof for the rain, And drinks beside the fire - Laughter to cheer you And those you love near you, And all that your heart may desire! May God grant you many years to live, For sure He must be knowing The earth has angels all too few And heaven is overflowing. May peace and plenty be the first To lift the latch to your door, And happiness be guided to your home By the candle of Christmas.