St. Patrick’s Day is a day of Irish glee! Parades, everything green is worn, time for drinking green beer, turning the Chicago River green, and even eating green Kristy Kreme Donuts.
Music of Ireland is exciting, fun, happy, and beautiful. Traditional Irish instruments include the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhran (drum), Celtic harp, uilleann pipes (bagpipes) , and bouzouki (large mandolin). A time for dancing, laughter joy, and love.
A famous Irish hymn is “Be Thou My Vision.” It is said to have been written as a poem sometime between the 6th – 8th century. The modern Irish version was translated in 1905 and again by Eleanor Hull, (England), in 1912. An old Irish tune entitled “Slane” is the melodic line. There is a manuscript at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin. The hymn is considered a prayer referring to Christ being my vision, wisdom, best thought, and light. Also considered a prayer of protection when referring to “my battle shield, and sword for my light; and my soul’s shelter.”
Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord:
Thou my great Father, I thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart;
High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Be Thou my battle shield, sword for my fight;
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight:
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower;
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
High King of heaven, my victory won;
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever be-fall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Submitted By:
Pam Jackson
Knoxville, TN