This song is a musical version of the "Breastplate of St. Patrick", a Lorica prayer attributed to St. Patrick. The early Celtic Christians often wrote Lorica prayers, or prayers of encircling, and they would say them at the beginning and end of every day, or whenever a missionary would leave or return. These are prayers that remind us that God is all around us and that we are called to both faith and action because of that. They especially call us to both acknowledge and invite Christ's presence into every part of our lives. I especially am challenged and humbled by the last part of the song:
"Christ in every eye who see’s me,
Christ in every ear who hears me,
Christ in every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every one that I see, ,
Christ in everyone that I hear,
Christ in every one to whom I speak."
lyrics
I bind to myself today the blessed trinity,
trinity in unity, the creator of all things.
I bind to myself today Christ the blessed son,
in His birth, His life, His death and resurrection
I bind to myself today the power of heaven,
the brightness of the moon and the light of the sun,
the swiftness of wind and the flash of lightning, the depth of the sea, stability of the earth.
God's Power to guide me, God's Ear to hear, God's Might to uphold me, God's Word to give me speech.
God's Wisdom to teach me, God's Hand to guide,
God's shield before me, God's way to be my path.
Against the snares of demons, seductions to the wrong.
Against the lusts of nature, and those who wish me woe.
Against every hostile and merciless power, and every false knowledge that binds the human soul.
Christ within me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ on my left and right
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
Christ in every eye who see’s me,
Christ in every ear who hears me,
Christ in every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every one that I see, ,
Christ in everyone that I hear,
Christ in every one to whom I speak.
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