St Patrick’s Daily Hymn

I have been busy as of late. Shortly after I had completed uploading the book, I focused intently on a confirmation retreat I had been invited to keynote. That retreat is over (and seemed to go well, thank you God), and Lent is coming.

I have since been invited to play for a healing mass that takes place on St. Patrick’s Day.

In preparation of choosing songs for the liturgy, I have decided to make it all about him. We forget that St. Patrick was like the Billy Graham of his day, preaching and helping spur revival in the land. The more we learn about him, the more we will be astonished at how God can use one person for the good of millions.

He had written a daily prayer, which was turned into a hymn. “I Bind Unto Myself Today.” The original lyrics can be found here.

I have decided to use this as the text for the opening hymn. But since the melody is not universally known, I have decided to refashion it to the melody of Amazing Grace. I have also made it congregational-specific, and also addressing God directly (“You”). I have also decided to take the most famous part of the song… the St. Patrick’s Breastplate (“Christ be before me, Christ be within me…”) and separate it out, and use it as a second Communion hymn, to another familiar melody.

Please look it over. Any comments?

We Bind Unto Ourselves Today

*Adapted from St. Patrick by Nick AlexanderMelody by John Newton*

We bind unto ourselves today
Your name, oh Trinity
by invocation of the same,
Three-in One, and One in Three.

We bind to us thru pow’r of faith,
Your incarnation, and learn
Your cross, Your bursting from the grave
Your ascending and return.

We bind unto ourselves today
Your pow’r to hold and lead,
Your eye to watch, Your might to stay,
Your ear hark’ning to our need.

We need Your wisdom, God, to teach,
Your hand to guide us forw’rd,
Your shield to protect, Your Word for speech
Your heavenly host, our guard.

Through You, we have all creation,
O Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to You, Lord, for salvation
You gave through Christ our Lord.

We bind unto ourselves today
Your name, oh Trinity
by invocation of the same,
Three-in One, and One in Three.