St. Patrick's Breastplate
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Lyrics and chords
13. St Patrick’s Breastplate
My call to the priesthood came while singing a hymn based upon St Patrick’s breastplate, called ‘I Bind Unto Myself today’.
So this particular piece of writing is very special to me, so much so I wanted to put my own music to it.
Intro: Fma7 Em7 Dm7 G7 C2
C G7/D C/E F C/E D7 Dm/G G7 G7sus G7 G/F
For my shield this day I call, a mighty power the Holy Trinity…
C G/D C/E F C/E Dm7 F/G G7
affirming three ness, confessing oneness, in the making of all through
C Abma7 C Abma7 C Bb C7/E
love, of all through love, of all through love.
F C/E Dm7 Am
For my shield this day I call Christ's power in his coming, and in his
E/G# Dm Am E Am G7/B
baptising, and in his dying on the cross.
C G7/D C/E F C/E Dm7 Dm7/G G7
Christ in the power of his arising, from the tomb, and his ascending,
C G7/D C/E
And power in his coming for judgement and ending.
F C/E Dm7 Dm7/G G7 C Dm7 G7sus G7
For my shield I call a mighty power.
C G7/D C/E
And for my shield this day I call…
F C/E F C/E Dm7 C F/G G7
Heaven's might, Sun's brightness, Moon's whiteness, Fire's glory.
F C/E F F/G C2
Lightning's swiftness, Wind's wildness,
F/G G7 C Dm7 /E /F /F# G7 Dm7 /E /F /F# G7
Ocean's depth, Earth's so li di t y, Rock's im mo bil it y,
Am7 Dm7 Am G F C/E Dm7 Dm/B E7 Am
This day I call to me.
E/G# C/E F C/E
I call God's strength to direct me, God's power to sustain me,
Dm7 Am Am/G F E7sus E
God's wisdom to guide me, God's vision to light me.
Am G F C/E
God's ear to my hearing, God's word to my speaking,
Dm7 Am E
God's hand to uphold me, God's pathway before me.
Am E/G# F C/E
God's shield to protect me, God's legions to save me,
Dm7 Am F Esus E
From snares of the demons, from evil enticements,
Am G F C/E
From failings of nature, from one man or many,
F Am E7 Am G
that seek to destroy me a- near or afar.
C G7/D C/E
Be this day my strong protector.
Fma7 Dm7 G7 F/C C Dm7 Em7
Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
F Dm7 G7sus G7
Christ within me. Beneath me and above me
F Dm7 G7 F/C C Dm7 Em7
Christ to right of me, Christ to left of me, And in my lying,
F Dm7
my sitting, my rising… in heart of all who know me,
G7sus G Dm7 C/E F F/E
on tongue of all who meet me. Christ in eye of all who see me, Christ in
Dm7 Dm/C G7/B G7sus/A G7
ear of all who hear me
( Rpt v 1)
Csus C Csus C (improvise etc.,)
Domini est salus, Christi est salus, Salus tua Domine, Sit semper nobiscum
(Words translated by James P Mackay from the book,
‘An Introduction to Celtic Christianity by T&T Clark Ltd)
Music © 1995Sheila Hamil