A pilgrim prays with his feet
Prayer before setting out on a pilgrimage
God of the guiding star, the bush that blazes – Show us Your Way
God of the stormy seas, the bread that nourishes – Teach us Your Truth
God of the still, small voice, the wind that blows where it chooses – Fill us with Life
God of the elements, of our inward and outward journeys – Set our feet on your road today.
May God bless us with a safe journey. May the Angels and Saints travel with us. May we live this day with Justice and Joy. Amen
Taken from This is the Day: Readings and Meditations from the Iona Community
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Prayer for the Camino
(This is an ancient prayer from the Codex Calixtinus that comes at the end of the Pilgrim Masses said along the Camino de Santiago)
O God, who brought your servant Abraham out of the land of the Chaldeans, protecting him in his wanderings, who guided the Hebrew people across the desert, we ask that you watch over us, your servants, as we walk in the love of your name to Santiago de Compostela. Be for us;
- Our companion on the walk,
- Our guide at the crossroads,
- Our breath in our weariness,
- Our protection in danger,
- Our albergue on the Camino,
- Our shade in the heat,
- Our light in the darkness,
- Our consolation in our discouragements,
- And our strength in our intentions,
So that with your guidance we may arrive safe and sound at the end of the Road and enriched with grace and virtue we return safely to our homes filled with joy.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Apostle Santiago, pray for us.
Santa Maria, pray for us.
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A Camino prayer
May I walk this day in the realm of grace, walking with You my feet firmly on your earth-path, my heart loving all as kindred, my words and deeds alive with justice.
May I walk as blessing; meeting blessing; at every turn in every challenge, blessing; in all opposition, blessing; in harm’s way, blessing.
May I walk each step in this moment of grace, alert to hear You and awake enough to say a simple Yes.
(Robert Corin Morris)
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Prayer of Thomas Merton
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Amen
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A prayer at the end of the day
Pilgrim God, our shoes are filled with stones, our feet are blistered and bleeding, our faces are stained with tears.
As we stumble and fall may we know your presence in the bleeding and in the tears and in the healing and the laughter of our pilgrimage.
(Kate McIhagga)