I bind unto myself this day (St Patrick's Breastplate)
| Composers: |
Charles Villiers Stanford *R. R. Terry |
|
| Tunes: |
St. Patrick Deirdre *Clonmacnoise |
|
| Words: | attributed to St. Patrick |
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me forever,
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on Cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim.
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
the Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the star lit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, His might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need.
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, His shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile men that mar my course;
or few or many, far or nigh,
in every place and in all hours,
against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles,
against the heart’s idolatry,
against the wizard’s evil craft,
against the death wound and the burning,
the choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.
View or download the score
St Pstrick's Breastplate
I Bind unto myself today - Stanford
00:00
Saint Patrick's Breastplate
St Peter's Singers - Leeds Minster
Episcopal Cathedral St. John the Divine - New York City
St. John's Detroit
Saint Patrick's Breastplate is a Christian hymn whose original Old Irish lyrics were traditionally attributed to Saint Patrick during his Irish ministry in the 5th century; however, it was probably actually written later, in the 8th century. It is written in the style of a druidic incantation for protection on a journey. It is part of the Liber Hymnorum, a collection of hymns found in two manuscripts kept in Dublin.
The words were translated into English verse by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1889 and set to two traditional Irish tunes, St. Patrick and Deirdre. The hymn, also known by its opening line "I bind unto myself today", is currently included in the English Hymnal, the Irish Church Hymnal and The Hymnal (1982) of the U.S. Episcopal Church. It is often sung during the celebration of the Feast of Saint Patrick on or near March 17, as well as on Trinity Sunday.
The prayer known as "Faeth Fiada," or the "Lorica of St. Patrick" (St. Patrick's Breast-Plate) was first edited by Petrie in his "History of Tara".
Scripture references may include Ephesians 6:10-17 ("God's shield to protect me ... from snares of devils").
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Metasyntactic variable".
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1
review
Woody Bredehoeft
18 Mar 2024
This hymn is also found in the “Lutheran Service Book” hymnal used in the Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod. Copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, #604 in a section of hymns headed, “Baptismal Life.”
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