Prayers
No form of prayer is "wrong", but sometimes we need encouragement and inspiration. The formal prayers offered daily in the Cathedral serve to encourage the worshipper by offering a way of praying together with other people. If you would like to join us in our prayer please visit our visitor information section of the website.
JANUARY PRAYER
18 January is the Feast of Saint Peter ad vincula: Saint Peter's Chains. Saint Peter is depicted in the lower half of the Ussher memorial window in the north choir aisle.
All at once an angel of the Lord stood there...he tapped Peter on the shoulder to wake him. 'Quick! Get up!' he said, and the chains fell away from Peter's wrists. (Acts 12:7)
Almighty God,
who freed Peter from his chains
so that he could preach the good news of your Son;
loose us from the chains of our sin,
that we may rise up, go forth, and follow you;
through the same, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FEBRUARY PRAYER
2 February is the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, sometimes called The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Candlemas. The Presentation is depicted in a panel in the centre light of the south transept window.
Suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight is here, here already, says the Lord of Hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Almighty God,
as your Son was presented in the Temple of the old covenant
and acclaimed by Simeon as the Light to lighten the nations;
grant that we, who are the temple of the Holy Spirit,
may bear witness to that light with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MARCH PRAYER
Sir Robert Prescott Stewart died on 24 March 1894. He was vicar choral for 45 years and organist in the Cathedral. He is commemorated in a window in the nave north aisle and on a brass memorial below it. He composed several anthems, and his Charte Glee is still sung at The Hibernian Catch Club's dinners.
'Sing ye praises with understanding' (Psalm 47:7)
Almighty God,
whose praises are sung by the hosts of heaven;
Bless your servants who seek, through music,
to offer you worthy praise in this Cathedral church,
that the voice of joy may be heard to your glory
until our voices blend with that equal music of your heavenly temple;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
APRIL PRAYER
On April 20 1179 a bull of Pope Alexander III included the church of St. Patrick in insula in a list confirming the possessions of the diocese of Dublin. This papal document confirms the existence of the church that subsequently became Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
'...I shall set your stones in the finest mortar, and pay your foundations with sapphires.' (Isaiah 54:10)
Great is your faithfulness, O God our Father,
and great is our joy in all your wonderous works.
We thank you for your servants who raised a church to your glory,
and for the ancient sacredness of the place where we now worship.
Continue, we pray, your blessings to us today;
that looking back to your mercies through the ages
we may look forward to your faithfulness which is for ever;
made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MAY PRAYER
On 19 May 1868 Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness died. His restoration of the fabric of the Cathedral was completed in 1865. His statue, located between the south aisle and The Close, was restored in 2005.
Thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in the dust. (Psalm 102:14)
O Lord God of Hosts, whose dwelling-place is most dear to us;
grant that we may so faithfully serve you in your house on earth,
that we may come to rejoice with you in your heavenly courts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JUNE PRAYER
On 14 June 1541 Henry VIII was proclaimed King of Ireland in the Cathedral.
26 July is the feast of Saint Killian. Born at Mullagh, County Cavan, he and his companions conducted a mission to Franconia. He established a cathedral at Wurzburg where he was murdered in 689.
Almighty God, we give you thanks
for those, like Killian, who carries the good news from this land;
grant that we, who remember their service,
may know the hope of the Gospel in our hearts
and shew forth its light in lives of joyful service;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
'Thou art the King of GLory, O Christ: thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.'
(from the hymn Te Deum Laudamus.)
Lord Jesus Christ,
after death on the cross
you ascended into heaven to rule over us as Lord and King;
Help us to know that in bearing the cross gladly for your sake
we become partakers of your victory,
and citizens of your eternal kingdom;
where you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit,
now and for evermore. Amen
SEPTEMBER PRAYER
September 14 is Holy Cross Day. The Crucifixion is depicted in the Jellett window in Saint Peter's Chapel.
'...and when they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there, and the criminals with him. Jesus said, Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.' (Luke 23:33)
Lord Jesus Christ,
forgive my sin and ignorance that nailed you to the cross;
give me grace and wisdom
to grieve for its tragedy,
to acknowledge its necessity,
and to accept the love
shown to me in your arms stretched wide;
yesterday, today , and forever. Amen.
OCTOBER PRAYER
Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork, was born on 13 October 1566. The Boyle Monument beside the west door of the Cathedral contains kneeling family figures to remind observers of the need to remain constant and faithful in prayer.
Jesus told them a parable to show that they should keep on praying and never lose heart......(Luke 18: 1)
Blessed be your love, Lord Jesus,
Opening our hearts to yours
Yesterday, today, for ever!
Lead us by your Holy Spirit
Ever to be watchful and faithful in prayer. Amen.
NOVEMBER PRAYER
2 November is All Souls' Day. The Maunsell window in the north aisle depicts Christ's appearance in Jerusalem after his resurrection.
'Jesus said, I am resurrection and I am life. Whoever has faith in me shall live, even though he dies.' (John 11:25)
Almighty God
We remember with thanksgiving those who worshipped in the Cathedral,
And who steeped its walls with their prayers
Before you called them away from your worship here below;
Grant that we may echo their praises
And come, through grace, to that dwelling of eternal rest and light
which you have prepared for all who have faith in your Son,
Even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DECEMBER PRAYER
25 December is Christmas Day. A nativity scene appears in a panel near the bottom of the centre light of the newly-restored south transcept window.
A young woman is with child, and she will give birth to a son and call him Emmanuel.' (Isaiah 7:14)
Almighty God,
You have filled the world with the new light of your Son;
Grant that as he kindles the flame of faith and love in our hearts
So his light may shine out in our lives,
For his name's sake. Amen.
