The Breastplate of St. Patrick, a song

When I was still relatively young in my faith, as a young adult, I had the opportunity to attend a worship leading conference in Edmonton, Alberta, and the worship leader on the first night opened the session by having us all read together an old poem called The Breastplate of St. Patrick. It's a latin poem traditionally ascribed to the Irish Saint, and I had never heard an expression of the Christian story quite so beautiful or thrilling. Ever since that evening back in 1999, I've always had a profound fascination with the Apostle to the Irish. I memorized the Breastplate, and would recite it to myself mornings on my way into work. I learned how to say the Lord's Prayer in Irish. I even wrote a musical based on the life of St. Patrick, called The Saint and the Slave, which The Corner Church staged back in 2018. It was this poem, however, that started it all for me. Shortly after getting back from that worship leaders conference in 1999, I sat down and set it to music, one of the first songs I ever wrote. This is a recent re-recording of that old song which I did last summer.



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

I bind this day to me forever
By power of faith Christ's incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river,
His death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to harken 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.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me;
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ to comfort and restore me;
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
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,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord!