Prayer of Saint Patrick

The Second Sunday in Lent
March 17, 2019
Statue of St. Patrick, Hill of Tara, Ireland (photo: Marty Wheeler Burnett)
In a nod to St. Patrick's Day, our choir is singing a portion of a famous prayer attributed to St. Patrick. Irish composer Bernard Sexton created the musical setting. Listen here: Prayer of Saint Patrick

 Christ be with me,
Christ within me.
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 who love me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

This prayer, attributed to Patrick since at least 690, is a "lorica," or breastplate prayer. It would have been chanted when arming for battle. As described in The Hymnal 1982 Companion: 

"Legend has it that Patrick sang this lorica as protection from the pagan Irish king Loegaire mac Neill and the Druid fire-worshipers who were attempting to prevent Patrick and his followers from reaching Tara where they would proclaim the Christian faith. The power of the lorica caused his company to appear to be a herd of deer, sparing them from attack by Loegaire, thus the hymn has also been known as The Deer's Cry."

 This particular portion of the breastplate prayer is described in David Adams' book, The Edge of Glory:

"The verse of St. Patrick's hymn is worth a daily meditation...Here we have a weaving of the Presence around our lives like the Celtic patterns on stones and in the illuminated Gospels: Christ moves in and out, over and under. We are encircled by him; encompassed by his presence and love."

 As we continue on our Lenten journey, take a few moments to breathe deeply and reflect on God's all-encompassing love.

 Music for The Second Sunday in Lent
March 17, 2019

 Hymns
401, The God of Abraham praise (Leoni)
675, Take up your cross, the Savior said (Bourbon)
143 (stanza 5), The glory of these forty days (Erhalt uns, Herr)
151, From deepest woe I cry to thee (Aus tiefer Not)
142, Lord, who throughout these forty days (St. Flavian)
448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (Deus tuorum militum)


Service Music

Kyrie eleison, S-96   Franz Peter Schubert, arr. Richard Proulx
Psalm 27:1-10   Plainsong, Tone VIII
Prayers of the People, Form I, S-106

Sanctus, S-130   Schubert/Proulx
Agnus Dei, S-164   Schubert/Proulx

 Anthem
Prayer of Saint Patrick   -Bernard Sexton

 Organ Music
Organ chorale: Aus tiefer Not   -Johann Sebastian Bach
Orgelchoral: O Lamm Gottes   -Hans Friedrich Micheelsen






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