Hymns, Prayers, Poems
May Brigid bless the house wherein you dwell
Bless every fireside every wall and door
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof
Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy
Bless every foot that walks its portals through
May Brigid bless the house that shelters you.
Brigid, you were a woman of peace,
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
And may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Words by Mother Cecilia, Brigidine Convent, Goresbridge. Circa 1911.
Sinnott (1863-1902)
Music by M.S.
Far above enthroned in glory
Sweetest Saint of Erin’s Isle
See thy children kneel before thee
Turn on us a Mother’s smile.
Sancta Mater, hear our pleading
Faith and hope and holy love
Sweet St. Brigid, Spouse of Jesus,
Sent to us from Heaven above.
Sweet St. Brigid, Erin’s children,
Far and near o’er land and sea
In the world and in the cloister
Fondly turn with love to thee.
Sancta Mater, sooth the mourner
Shield the weary tempted soul
Sweet St. Brigid, guide thy children
To thy bright and happy home.
Translated into Gaelic by Dr Douglas Hyde,
(1860 – 1949) first President of Ireland.
Music by M.S. circa 1911.
Dearc anuas, féach mar táimid,
A Naomh álainn féach sinn!
Féachaimid ár nglúin id’ láthair,
Dearc mar Mháthair ar do chlainn.
Cuidigh linn, a mháthair aoibhinn
Bí a choíche ag éisteacht linn.
A Naoimh Bhríd a Chéile Chríosta
Mar an faoileán ar an toinn.
Níl aon áit a bhfuil na Gaeil
Ar an saol seo bhus no thall,
Nach bhfuil grá acu ‘na gcroíthe
Ortsa (a) Bhríd gheal, moch is mall.
Líon le grá an croí tá brúite,
Bain den tsúil tá fliuch le deor;
Stiúraigh, treoraigh, árdaigh sinne
Nó go dtigimid i do ghlóir
Words and music by Sr Clare Keady csb, NSW Australia
O Holy St Brigid our model and mother
To your intercession great blessings we owe.
Lead us to Christ through your strength and your gentleness
Grant us the peace that his love can bestow.
Protect us and pray for us now dearest patroness
Kindle in us an unquenchable fire
Teach us to love with your courage and confidence
Lead us with joy to the Christ we desire.
Words and music by Sr Clare Keady csb, Australia
Jesus Christ in every other person seeing
Loving God with every fiber of her being.
When Brigid strong and gentle saw her people in distress
She put aside her wealth to bring them God and happiness.
From beggars, lepers all in need she did not turn away
She said, “In each one’s face I see, I see the face of God today.”
Her schools and convents soon began to point the road to heaven
To everything God asked of her she said “It shall be given.”
So may the God that Brigid loved forever in us dwell
St. Brigid ask for us to day the grace to serve him well.
Music composed by Sr Genevieve Sheedy csb, Australia
St. Brigid Mary of Ireland
ask for us all today,
the courage to do God’s bidding
whatever the world may say.
The grace to be strong and valiant,
the grace to be firm and true
the grace to be faithful always
to God, God’s Mother and you.
Composed by Sr Clare Keady csb, Australia
Patrick:
Shepherd-boy in slavery
Prayed that God would set him free.
Safe at home he had a dream
Of voices calling urgently…
“Patrick, come back to our people.
Patrick, we’re longing to hear the word of God.”
Patrick’s faith was a fire
That would warm and inspire.
As he taught all the people God’s way
And we thank God for Patrick today.
Brigid:
Woman of vitality
Love and generosity.
Blessed with gifts of heart and mind
She sought the will of God to find.
“Brigid, come forth to your people.
Brigid, come show us how to live the love of God!”
She was joyful and strong
And before very long
She was teaching the people God’s way,
And we thank God for Brigid today.
Daniel: Priest of God in troubled days
Strong and gentle in his ways.
To work in France was Daniel’s choice
Until he heard his mother’s voice.
“Daniel come home to your people
Daniel, come gather those who’ll share the word of God.”
He was kindly and wise
And God blessed his enterprise
As he taught all his people God’s way
And we thank God for Daniel today.
Brigidine Pioneers
Women listening to God’s call,
Fired with Brigid’s care for all.
Through their teaching would express Jesus’ strength and gentleness…
“Sisters, hear the cry of My people,
Calling from near at hand and far across the sea.”
Since those brave pioneers
Over two hundred years
They’ve been teaching and learning God’s way.
We thank God for our Sisters today.
In honour of St, Brigid (composed by Liam Lawton, January 1993)
There travels forth from the passages of history
A woman’s voice that is heard across the plains,
That calls once more, for a people of new vision
To heal our wounds and green our Earth again,
She spreads her cloak ‘cross the land and far beyond it,
A shadow cast on a people void of hope.
She speaks of peace and the chains that weigh upon it
And there her light shall glimmer from the oak
And all that binds the people shall be broke.
So light the Fire of God’s desire
Within all hearts, let sorrows end.
So light the Fire of God’s desire
God’s chosen one, Your peace upon us send.
And wells now dry, shall issue forth with plenty
To flow upon the sad and parching earth,
To make a prayer from the hearts now tired and empty,
To call on her to bring about new birth,
To make anew the greening of the Earth.
So light the Fire of God’s desire
Within all hearts, let sorrows end.
So light the Fire of God’s desire
God’s chosen one, Your peace upon us send.
And we today need a prophet of new vision,
To lift the low – the forgotten child to heed,
To be the voice of the wounded and the weary,
To plant anew a fresh and peaceful seed
To dance the dance of God’s own Blessed Bríd.
So light the Fire of God’s desire…
In honour of St. Brigid (composed by Rev. Liam Lawton for the Brigidine Bicentenary Mass, 1st February, 2007.)
In hearts we wonder where love is found.
We keep on searching, our quest abounds.
From darkest valleys to brightest skies,
Through all of creation we are inspired.
For God is near us, and never far,
God’s place of resting is every heart.
So let us journey to the end,
With hands now open to foe and friend.
To light the darkness and seek for hope,
To fight for justice as prophets spoke,
And in creation your wisdom know,
Your sign and symbol,
The acorn and the oak
In places darkened by fear and war.
We speak forgiveness to every heart.
The poor, the lonely, the ones who mourn,
Will find us waiting with open doors,
For God is near us and all who weep,
Our Lord and Shepherd who never sleeps
There is no future that we can build,
Without love’s presence and be fulfilled
To build a new world where hope is born
Where lives once broken will watch the dawn,
For God is with us to hold and heal,
No longer strangers, our God is near.
The God of history calls us to be
The voice of freedom so all can see
The flame of Brigid to light the way,
The words of Daniel echo in prayer,
So may they guide us as Saint and Friend,
Our own companions till journey’s end