Deus meus, adiuva me
My God, help me
(A Medieval Celtic Hymn)
St. James the Lesser holding a fuller's club, St. Philip holding a bible and St. Mathias holding a sword, Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland, 15th Century
Deus meus, adiuva me is a hymn written by Mael Isu Ua Brolchain, Abbot of Iona and Senior Hiberniae (Head Abbot of all the Columban foundations in Ireland and Scotland), a Medieval Irish religious poet. Mael Isu Ua Brolchain died in 1086.
The first and last line of each verse is Latin, and the second and third line is Gaelic.
Deus meus, adiuva me
Latin and Gaelic
Deus meus, adiuva me Tabhair dom do shearch, a Mhic ghil Dé Tabhair dom do shearch, a Mhic ghil Dé Deus meus, adiuva me.
In meum cor, ut sanum sit, Tabhair, a Rí rán, do ghrá go grip; Tabhair, a Rí rán, do ghrá go grip, In meum cor, ut sanum sit.
Domine da quod peto a te, Tabhair dom go dian a ghrian ghlan ghlé, Tabhair dom go dian a ghrian ghlan ghlé, Domine da quod peto a te.
Hanc spero rem et quaero quam, Do shearc dom sonn, do shearc dom thall; Do shearc dom sonn, do shearc dom thall, Hanc spero rem et quaero quam.
Tuum amorem, sicut vis, Tabhair dom go tréan, a déarfad arís; Tabhair dom go tréan, a déarfad arís, Tuum amorem, sicut vis.
Quaero, postulo, peto a te, Mo bheatha i neamh, a mhic dhil Dé; Mo bheatha i neamh, a mhic dhil Dé, Quaero, postulo, peto a te.
Domine mi, exaudi me, M’anam bheith lán de d’ghrá, a Dhé, M’anam bheith lán de d’ghrá, a Dhé, Deus meus, adiuva me.
A version with alternative Gaelic:
Deus meus, adiuva me Tuc dam do sheirc, a meic mo Dé. Tuc dam do sheirc, a meic mo Dé. Deus meus, adiuva me.
In meum cor, ut sanum sit, tuc, a Rí rán, do grád co gribb. Tuc, a Rí rán, do grád co gribb in meum cor, ut sanum sit
Domine, da quod peto a te, Tuc, tuc co dían, a grían glan glé, Tuc, tuc co dían, a grían glan glé, Domine, da quod peto a te.
Hanc spero rem et quaero quam, do sherc dam sunn, do sherc dam tall, do sherc dam sunn, do sherc dam tall, hanc spero rem et quaero quam,
Tuum amorem, sicut vis, Tuc dam co trén (at-bér do-rís). Tuc dam co trén (at-bér do-rís) Tuum amorem, sicut vis.
Quaero, postulo, peto a te. Mo beith i nim, a meic dil Dé. Mo beith i nim, a meic dil Dé, quaero, postulo, peto a te.
Domine mi, exaudi me. M' ainim rop lán dot grád, a Dé. M' ainim rop lán dot grád, a Dé Deus meus, adiuva me.
English
My God, help me. Give me love of thee, O Son of my God. Give me love of thee, O son of my God. My God, help me.
Into my heart that it may be whole, O glorious King, swiftly bring love of thee. O Glorious King, swiftly bring love of thee into my heart that it may be whole.
Lord, give what I ask of thee – give, give speedily, O bright and gleaming sun - give, give speedily, O bright and gleaming sun - Lord, give what I ask of thee.
This thing which I hope and seek, love of thee in this world, love of thee in that, love of thee in this world, love of thee in that, this thing which I hope and seek.
Love of thee, as thou wishest, give me in thy might (I will say it again). Give me in thy might (I will say it again), love of thee, as thou wishest.
I seek, I beg, I ask of thee that I be in Heaven, dear Son of God. That I be in Heaven, dear Son of God, I seek, I beg, I ask of thee.
My Lord, hear me. May my soul, O God, be full of love for thee. May my soul, O God, be full of love for thee. My God, help me.
Irish High Cross, Rock of Cashal, Tipperary, Ireland, from 12th Century
Invocation of Saint Michael
Also written by Mael Isu Ua Brolchain.
O Angel! Carry, O Michael so powerful, My case to the Lord.
Are you listening? Ask of the God of forgiveness The remission of all my sins.
Do not delay, Carry my fervent desire Before the King, the Great King.
To my soul Bring help, bring comfort At the moment of my departure from earth.
In strength, To meet my pining soul, Come with multitudes of Angels.
O Champion, Against the evil, foul and troublesome world Truly come and help me.
Do not shower Contempt on what I say; Do not abandon me while I live.
You I choose To free this soul of mine, My mind, my reason, my body.
O Advocate Triumphant and victorious in war O Angelic slayer of antichrist!
St. Michael, Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland, 15th Century
A Confession of Sins
From the Prayer Book of Aedeluald the Bishop, commonly called The Book of Cerne, c. 820-840.
I come before your sight, O Lord,
as one accused with my conscience as witness.
I pray, not daring to ask what I am not worthy to receive.
But Lord, you know everything
that drives us to confess to you;
what we are ashamed of,
and the sins we were not afraid to commit.
With these words we yield to you our hearts and minds,
and commend to you what we say,
but not what we have done.
Spare us, O Lord, and forgive the sins we confess.
Have mercy on those who call to you.
And because my senses are weak
in comprehending your mysteries,
grant, Lord, the things we do not ask
because of the hardness of our hearts,
and grant us pardon;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ante oculos tuos domine reus conscientiae testis adsisto rogare non audeo quod impetrare non merear . Tu enim scis domine omnia quae aguntur in nobis erubescimus confitere quod per nos non timemus conmittere . Uerbis tibi tantum obsequimur corde autem mentimus . et quod uelle nos dicimus nolle nostris actibus adprobamus . parce domine confitentibus ignosce peccantibus . miserere te rogantibus . et quia in sacramentis tuis meus sensus infirmus est . praesta domine ut qui ex nobis duri cordis uerba non suscipis . per te nobis ueniam largiaris iesus christus dominus noster . Amen.
Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Immaculata Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis.
