St. Patrick- One day late

I was out of the office yesterday, so I missed posting about St. Patrick. The holiday is so much more than blarney stones and beer. St. Patrick was the missionary to Ireland who brought the saving gospel to people in the face of pagan druidism. He has left a lasting legacy for the Christian Church in the use of the following song. The tune is quite challenging, some would say even difficult, but once you get to learn it, you love it. His hymn, entitled St. Patrick's Breastplate, is a wonderful 'textbook' on the Trinity.

604 I Bind unto Myself Today

1 I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

2 I bind this day to me forever,
By pow’r of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
His Baptism in the Jordan River,
His cross of death for my salvation,
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heav’nly way,
His coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.

3 I bind unto myself today
The pow’r 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 heav’nly host to be my guard.

4 Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile foes that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In ev’ry place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me those holy pow’rs.

5 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,
Of whom all nature has creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
Salvation is of Christ the Lord!

Text (sts. 1–5) and Tune: Public domain
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.