Garland of Virtues

I wrote this Prayer back whenever I first started incorporating the Rosary into my devotional practice, after spending countless hours pouring over the Wisdom Texts; it’s meant to be recited in the mornings (or at the start of one’s day) as a meditative reminder and moral reference point for the rest of the day.

Some portions of the prayer are a combination and modification of several prayers located in the Carmina Gadelica, superimposed over the traditional structure of the Dominican style of Rosary commonly used in the Catholic faith– wherein various virtues collected from the Irish Wisdom Texts replace the decades and mysteries.

Each virtue is separated into one of 4 groups linked to one of four “entity types": The Elemental Trinity (Land, Sea, and Sky), the Dé ocus Andé (Gods and Ungods), the Aos Sí (Faerie Queens), and the Ancestors- all of whom are mentioned in the opening portion of the prayer; the fourth group, the Favored Virtues, is meant to consist of any values you personally hold as important to yourself- or which you wish to explicitly focus on that day.

Crucifix / Opening

I am bending my knee,

In honor of the Trinity which surrounds me,

In honor of the Gods and UnGods who guide me,

In honor of the Fae who relinquish me,

And the Ancestors who created me;

Glory be to thee.

First Our Father

I give thee a tithe of my means;

The three Hail Mary's

First: I bathe thy palms in milk and honey,

Second: In flour and grain,

Third: And in showers of wine.

Second Our Father

I place the choicest virtues,

In thy fair, fond faces-

For thou art the joyous of all joyful things,

And thou art the loveliest of all beauties.

Medallion / Glory Be / First Decade

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

Trinitarian Virtues

First: The virtue of Dignity

Second: The virtue of Honor

Third: The virtue of Valor

Fourth: The virtue of Courage

Fifth: The virtue of Strength

Sixth: The virtue of Firmness

Seventh: The virtue of Steadfastness

Eighth: The virtue of Perseverance

Ninth: The virtue of Vigilance

Tenth: The virtue of Loyalty

Second Decade

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

Divine Virtues

First: The virtue of Discernment

Second: The virtue of True Judgement

Third: The virtue of Right Action

Fourth: The virtue of Lawfulness

Fifth: The virtue of Truthfulness

Sixth: The virtue of Righteousness

Seventh: The virtue of Patience

Eighth: The virtue of Mercy

Ninth: The virtue of Wisdom

Tenth: The virtue of Keenness

Third Decade

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

Ethereal Virtues

First: The virtue of Generosity

Second: The virtue of Hospitality

Third: The virtue of Preservation

Fourth: The virtue of Respect

Fifth: The virtue of Kindness

Sixth: The virtue of Mindfulness

Seventh: The virtue of Consideration

Eighth: The virtue of Graciousness

Ninth: The virtue of Beneficence

Tenth: The virtue of Conscientiousness

Fourth Decade

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

Ancestral Virtues

First: The virtue of Nobility

Second: The virtue of Tradition

Third: The virtue of Propriety

Fourth: The virtue of Excellence

Fifth: The virtue of Morality

Sixth: The virtue of Eloquence

Seventh: The virtue of Beauty

Eighth: The virtue of Education

Ninth: The virtue of Humility

Tenth: The virtue of Moderation

Fifth Decade

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

Favored Virtues

Before reciting the prayer, think on the list of virtues and pick 10 you wish to focus on throughout the day. These should be recited during this section of the prayer; alternatively you can allow your mind to wander while praying and recite the ones which come to mind or stand out the most.

Closing Medallion

Give unto me the rich gifts of thine hand,

And the joyous blessing of thy mouth,

Whatever providence befalls me as thy child,

That I may emulate thy glory.

I’ve segmented the prayer headers above roughly based on the prayer names and locations of the Dominican Rosary itself- that way it’s easier to see where each stanza should be prayed in comparison to it; you can also see it better illustrated in the image at the top of the post.

The Decades in between each set of virtues is meant to be repetitive- and most might find it unnecessarily or even boringly so. But I find it aids me in remembering the virtues between them. I also find that it forces me into a slower, more meditative state overall while praying- and Praying the Rosary is largely meant to be a meditative, heavily reflective and contemplative method of prayer in the first place.

The prayer ends once you reach the medallion. Unlike the traditional Dominican Rosary prayers, however, it doesn’t extend back down the “tassel”, or hanging portion of the Rosary containing the crucifix.