FOR SORE EYES
"Take away the pain, O Mary, mother, and scatter the mist from the eyes.
For all power is given to the mother of Christ to give light to the eyes, and to
drive the red mist back to the billows whence it came."
FOR PAINS IN THE BODY
Rub the part affected with flax and tow, heated in the fire, repeating in
Irish--
"In the name of a rough man and a mild woman, and of the Lamb of
God, be healed from your pains and your sins. So be it. AMEN."
This custom refers to the tradition that one day the Lord Christ, being
weary, asked leave to rest in a house, but was refused by the master of the
house, a rough, rude man. Then the wife, being a mild woman, had pity on
the wayfarer, and brought Him in to rest, and gave Him a cup of water to
drink, and spake kindly to Him. After which the man was suddenly taken
with severe pains, and seemed like to die in his agony.
On this Christ called for some flax and tow, and, breathing on it, placed
it on the part affected, by which means the man was quite healed. And then
the Lord Christ went His way, but not before the man had humbly asked
pardon for his rudeness to a stranger.
The tradition of this cure has remained ever since, and a hot plaster of
flax and tow is used by the peasantry invariably for all sudden pains, and
found to be most efficacious as a cure.
AGAINST DROWNING
"May Christ and His saints stand between you and harm.Mary and her Son.
St. Patrick with his staff.
Martin with his mantle.
Bridget with her veil.
Michael with his shield.
And God over all with His strong right hand."