{"id":5065,"date":"2021-11-05T04:49:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T04:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cindyswriting.com\/?p=5065"},"modified":"2021-10-27T23:53:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T23:53:11","slug":"the-longing-of-the-celtic-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cindyswriting.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/05\/the-longing-of-the-celtic-soul\/","title":{"rendered":"The Longing of the Celtic Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From my book,\u00a0Celtic Wisdom<\/a><\/em><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All souls, not only the Celtic soul, are restless. The Irish monks became wanderers precisely because of this longing to find their hearts’ desire. Originally an eighth-century Irish prayer, they hymn Be Thou My Vision<\/em><\/strong> beautifully expresses the Celtic soul’s longing for God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Inch
Inch Abbey, County Down. Photo by Cindy Thomson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scroll to the bottom to hear Roma Downey’s version.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>TRANSLATED BY MARY E. BYRNE, VERSED BY ELEANOR H. HULL (1912)\u00a0<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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