Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1: I. Achaine: Invocations: 50. The Baptism Blessing. Am Beannachadh Baistidh

Carmina Gadelica, Volume 1, by Alexander Carmicheal, [1900], at sacred-texts.com

IT is known that a form of baptism prevailed among the Celts previous to the introduction of Christianity, as forms of baptism prevail among pagan people now. Whenever possible the Celtic Church christianized existing ceremonies and days of special observance, grafting the new on the old, as at a later day Augustine did in southern Britain. Immediately after its birth the nurse or other person present drops three drops of water on the forehead of the child. The first drop is in the name of the Father, representing wisdom; the second drop is in the name of the Son, representing peace; the third drop is in the name of the Spirit, representing purity. If the child be a male p. 115 the name 'Maol-domhnuich,' if a female the name 'Griadach,' is applied to it temporarily. 'Maol-domhnuich' means tonsured of the Lord, and 'Griadach' is rendered Gertrude. When the child is ecclesiastically baptized--generally at the end of eight days--the temporary is superseded by the permanent name. This lay baptism is recognised by the Presbyterian, the Anglican; the Latin, and the Greek Churches. If the child were not thus baptized it would need to be carefully guarded lest the fairies should spirit it away before the ecclesiastical baptism took place, when their power over it ceased. The lay baptism also ensured that in the event of death the child should be buried in consecrated ground.

p. 114

p. 115

THI, tha comhnadh nan ard,
Tiur do bheannachd ’na thrath,
Cuimhnich-s’ leanabh mo chri,
An Ainm Athar na sith;
Trath chuireas sagart an Righ
Air uisge na brigh,
Builich da beannachd nan Tri
     Ta lionadh nan ard.
   Beannachd nan Tri
     Ta lionadh nan ard.

Crath nuas air do ghras,
Tabh dha feart agus fas,
Tabh dha trein agus treoir,
Tabh dha seilbh agus coir,
Rian agus ciall gun gho,
Gliocas aingeal r’a lo,
Chum’s gun seas e gun sgeo
     ’Na d’ lathair.
   Gun seas e gun sgeo
     ’Na d’ lathair.

THOU Being who inhabitest the heights
Imprint Thy blessing betimes,
Remember Thou the child of my body,
In Name of the Father of peace;
When the priest of the King
On him puts the water of meaning,
Grant him the blessing of the Three
     Who fill the heights.
   The blessing of the Three
     Who fill the heights.

Sprinkle down upon him Thy grace,
Give Thou to him virtue and growth,
Give Thou to him strength and guidance,
Give Thou to him flocks and possessions,
Sense and reason void of guile,
Angel wisdom in his day,
That he may stand without reproach
     In Thy presence.
   He may stand without reproach
     In Thy presence.

AM BEANNACHADH BAISTIDH [50]

THE BAPTISM BLESSING