This is the Altar of Colmcille, or Saint Columba, on Inishmore in the Aran Islands.
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Today, June 9th is his Feast Day and locals and pilgrims alike will visit the altar and ‘make the rounds’. The center of the altar is filled with small stones. Visitors pick up 7 stones and then walk clockwise 7 times on a sand path – leaving a stone back in the altar each time round… praying all the way. Behind the altar and all along the path to the altar… there is a well spring with water emerging from the rock towards the beach. After you do the rounds, you may collect the water. Saint Colmcille is associated with the development of Christian monasticism and ’emigration for Christ’, as he was ultimately exiled and became a pilgrim traveling to Iona off the cost of Scotland. There he founded an Abbey, still in use to this day, which went on to become known as a birthplace of Celtic Christianity. These prayers for those forced to leave their homelands are so potent today. Blessings.
PRAYERS for EMIGRANTS:
Lord Jesus,
In the very first days of your earthly life you were compelled together with your mother Mary and father Joseph to flee your native land and seek refuge in Egypt, knowing the discomfort of emigrants.
Look kindly upon our brothers and sisters who are far from their native soil, from friends and family, and are struggling to come to terms with new life in a foreign land.
Guide them on their journey, stay close to them in their loneliness and comfort the family and friends they have left behind.
We pray Lord that we may be able to embrace them once more, at home or abroad, and for those that pass from this life, we pray that we may meet once more in your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
St Colmcille,
Who suffered pain and grief of exile,
watch over the children of Ireland,
scattered throughout the world.
Obtain for them solace and courage,
and keep them true to God
in every trial and temptation.
Amen. (Prayers of an Irish Mother)
Bless all those who have left our country and now live in other lands.
Give them a strong faith so that they will always put their trust in you
and make you known by the example of their lives.
Console those who are lonely because they are separated from those they love.
Help all missionaries who are working far from home to make your love known.
Bless our people overseas who are sick or in prison.
We pray for foreigners living in our country that they may experience our hospitality.
Grant your eternal welcome to our emigrants who have died and to all the dead. Amen. (Leckpatrick Parish, Derry Diocese)
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