Celtic Prayers

by Alexander Carmichael

Over thousands of years, the people of Ireland and Scotland gave voice to their deep sense of spirituality with their tremendous gift for the spoken word. Just at a time when much of this Celtic oral tradition was about to vanish forever, Alexander Carmichael collected these powerful prayers and incantations from the remote highlands and islands of Gaelic-speaking Scotland. What he saved goes far beyond mere words of petition - each piece is a unique meditation exhibiting the art and wonderment of the Celtic soul. These invaluable prayers were meant to accompany the thoughts and actions of each day and to pay tribute to the majesty of all creation. Much of this poetry goes back to early Celtic Christianity, and even further back to the prehistoric roots of the Irish-Scottish world. These rich prayers are full of comfort, strength, healing, protection, and blessing.

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Alexander Archibald Carmichael (Gaelic: Alasdair Gilleasbaig MacGilleMhìcheil) was a Scottish exciseman, folklorist, antiquarian, and author. Between 1860 and his death Carmichael collected a vast amount of folklore, local traditions, natural history observations, antiquarian data, and material objects from people throughout the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the southern Outer Hebrides where he lived, worked, and brought up his family between 1864 and 1882. Alexander Carmichael is best known today for Carmina Gadelica, an influential compendium of Highland lore and literature published in six volumes between 1900 and 1971.