A Little Book of House Blessings

By Peter Watkins

A collection of various house blessings from differing cultures and sources the Bible, Celtic spirituality, Latin prayers, prayers of St Francis and other saints, poems of blessing from Robert Herrick and other literary figures, liturgies for rites of blessing for each room of a home and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Canterbury Press
• Release date: Jan 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781848254299

Book preview

PART ONE

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

HOME SWEET HOME

Except the Lord build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the Lord keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127.1, AV

God gives the desolate a home to dwell in.

Psalm 68.6, NRSV

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.

J. H. Payne, The Maid of Milan

Charity begins at home.

Traditional

East, west, home’s best.

Traditional

The strength of a nation is derived

from the integrity of its house.

Confucius

In love of home, the love of country has its rise.

Charles Dickens

The snail, which everywhere doth roam,

Carrying his own house still, still is at home.

John Donne

’Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog’s honest bark

Bay deep-mouth’d welcome as we draw near home;

’Tis sweet to know there is an eye will