Deep peace of the running wave to you

Deep peace of the flowing air to you

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you

Deep peace of the gentle night to you

Moon and stars pour their healing light on you

Deep peace of Christ,

the light of the world to you

Not just ‘peace’ but ‘deep’ peace. That’s what this gentle blessing invites God to give, bringing to mind that ‘peace of God which passes all understanding’ which St Paul wrote about in his letter to the Philippians all those years ago (4.7).

The words of the prayer have ancient roots but came to relatively recent prominence when David Adam included a slightly shorter version in The Edge of Glory, one of his collections of prayers in the Celtic tradition. It showcases a key characteristic of Celtic spirituality by emphasising the divine presence in the natural world. The moon and stars, the earth itself, the wind, sea, and sky are all seen as pointers to God, each version of this prayer culminating in a line which blesses those present with nothing less than Christ, the Prince of Peace himself.

In 1978, John Rutter set this prayer to music and A Gaelic Blessing has been an enduringly popular choice at weddings, baptisms and funerals ever since, the serenity of the piece bringing calm, comfort. Listen below to the composer himself conducting the Cambridge Singers.

When these words, spoken or sung, conclude a burial, they have a particular resonance: those grieving around the grave, gathered together in the ‘flowing air’, will just have watched a coffin lowered into the ‘quiet earth’ while entrusting their loved one into the deep peace of Christ.