Saint Kevin and the Blackbird

There is a story of the Irish Saint Kevin (whose feast day is June 3, nearly six months to the day of Blessed Angela of Foligno's festival on January 4) in which Kevin was standing in prayer, with his arms in the form of a cross, when he saw a bird land on his outstretched hand. He decided to stay still so as not to disturb the bird who built a nest in his hand. Kevin remained still, according to the story, long enough for the mother to lay her eggs, hatch them, and wait for the fledglings to fly from the nest. All the while, he was fed by the bird.

Here is a photo of a statue of St. Kevin at prayer, holding the mother bird, in Ireland.




There is reason to believe this story refers to the early Celtic monastic tradition of the Shrine of Piety, in which one stands in with arms outstretched in the form of a cross, and recites the Lord's Prayer. Here is a description from a historic Celtic prayerbook.

The Shrine of Piety, from A Celtic Breviary (Paragraph 6 Teaching of Maelrúain of Tallaght)

Standing facing the East with both hands raised to Heaven and clear of vesture say:

The Divine Prayer
Our Father, Who art in the Heavens,
hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors
and lead us not into temptation but
deliver us from evil. Amen.

O God come to my assistance,
O Lord make haste to help me.


O God come to my assistance,
O Lord make haste to help me.


O God come to my assistance,
O Lord make haste to help me.



Make the Sign of the Cross with the right hand to the East.

Turn and repeat to each of the other three directions. After again turning to the East, repeat the Divine Prayer and the three repetitions of "O Lord come to my assistance..." for all four directions with face bent down toward the ground, standing erect only to make the Sign of the Cross in each direction.

After again turning to East, repeat the Divine Prayer and the three repetitions of "O Lord come to my assistance..." for all four directions with face raised to Heaven, looking ahead only to make the Sign of the Cross in each direction.

Therefore the Divine Prayer is repeated twelve times, "O Lord come to my assistance..." is repeated thirty six times and the Sign of the Cross is made twelve times.

Saint Kevin's tireless stance in prayer is memorialized in this hymn in his honor.

With hymns of praise let us all bless the noble Kevin, who by his godly love poureth divine grace into the hearts of those who honor him; for he dwelleth now with the saints and angels in heaven, where he standeth before the throne of the Most High, praying unceasingly for us all.