On Holy Thursday Night, the Celtic peasants of the Hebridean Islands off the coast of Scotland had a prayer called "Christ the Priest Above Us". In this Year of the Priest, when so much criticism has been leveled at many good priests for the sins of a few, I adapted this prayer and updated it. Here it is, a Celtic Prayer for Priests.
A CELTIC PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
Christ is the Priest above us,
Ordained of God for all the living.
Christ is the Priest above us.
The bread, His Body; the wine, His Blood;
Food for the wayward, drink for the lost.
Christ is the Priest above us.
His garden of sorrow, His garden of betrayal,
A Kiss for the King, a Sign for the soldiers.
Christ is the Priest above us.
Nailed to the Cross of terrible agony;
Anguish, distress, crucified pain.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I hear the hills, I hear the seas,
I hear the angels heralding to earth,
Christ is the Priest above us.
His Heart, my heart; His Hands my hands;
My very self belongs to Him.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I bear his name; I speak his voice,
Without envy, or anger, or shadow on heart.
Christ is the Priest above us.
I am the face of Christ the Priest;
I am His servant at the door.
Guide me, guard me, heal me, help me
Be the window through which You shine–
Christ the Priest above us. Amen.
Adapted from the Gaelic by E. R. Barr
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