Prayers at the start of the Journey

At the start of the pilgrims' journey the St Andrews University Chaplain, Dr Jamie Walker, read the following prayers:

The prayers are taken from the Carmina Gadelica by Alexander Carmichael. These are hymns and incantations collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the 18th century. The Journey Blessing is no.271 and is adapted (as people went on pilgrimages often blessed was their staff and the scrip, a small bag for carrying all they took with them); the Blessings are from no.277 (Floris Books, Edinburgh, 1992).

(1) The Journey Blessing
Bless to them, O God, the earth beneath their feet,
Bless to them, O God, the path whereon they go;
Bless to them, O God, their bicycles, their help upon their way,
Bless to them, O God, their panniers, their scrip upon the road;
Bless to them, O God, the thing of their desire;
Thou Evermore of evermore, bless Thou to them their rest.

Bless to them the thing whereon is set their mind,
Bless to them the thing whereon is set their love,
Bless to them the thing whereon is set their hope,
O thou King of kings, bless thou to them their eye!

(2) Blessing

The eye of the great God be upon you,
The eye of the God of glory be on you,
The eye of the Son of Mary Virgin be on you,
The eye of the Spirit mild be on you,
To aid you and shepherd you;
Oh the kindly eye of the Three be on you,
To aid you and to shepherd you.

(3) Blessing

May God make safe to you each steep,
May God make open to you each pass,
May God make clear to you each road,
And may He take you in the clasp of His own two hands.

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Last updated 17th August 2005