Habemas Papem!

[Alexander's Horse]

I've had both effects, but never mind.

Hey Monk your hymn reminded me of an old Irish prayer, recited by monks A modern version of it is here:



It is also known as Saint Patrick's prayer - very appropriate today, on his feast day.

[The Mad Monk]

Very nice, and appropriate.

Familiar tune, too. I guess that's the original.

[Alexander's Horse]

Not sure, I dare say Cat Stevens ripped off the arrangement

There are many versions of the Saint Patrick's prayer, which is really a meditation or litany and quite ancient, this one typical, as a morning prayer, upon waking every day:

As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen

[Kidlicious]

My God is a Consuming Fire.

[The Mad Monk]

Not sure, I dare say Cat Stevens ripped off the arrangement

He must be older than I thought.

[Kidlicious]

Meredith Andrews

[The Mad Monk]

Not sure, I dare say Cat Stevens ripped off the arrangement

There are many versions of the Saint Patrick's prayer, which is really a meditation or litany and quite ancient, this one typical, as a morning prayer, upon waking every day:

As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen

Be Thou My Vision has its roots in the same tradition. It is a fusion, though a fitting one.

Millions worldwide have found in the humble prayer text and lyric tune "Be Thou My Vision" a vehicle for praise and worship. It offers a singular voice of fierce devotion rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity that is still relevant today.

The eighth-century prayer was composed in Old Irish:

Rob tu mo bhoile,
a Comdi cride.
Ni ni nech aile,
acht ri secht nime …

Only in this century did this text find its English translation. Mary Byrne rendered it into literal English prose in 1905:

Be thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart.
None other is aught
but the King of the seven heavens.

Be thou my meditation
by day and night;
May it be thou that I behold
even in my sleep.

Be thou my speech,
be thou my understanding,
Be thou with me,
be I with thee.

Be thou my father,
be I thy son.
Mayst thou be mine,
may I be thine.

Be thou my battle-shield,
be thou my sword.
Be thou my dignity,
be thou my delight.

Be thou my shelter,
be thou my stronghold.
Mayst thou raise me up
to the company of the angels.

Be thou every good
to my body and soul.
Be thou my kingdom
in heaven and on earth.

Be thou solely
chief love of my heart.
Let there be none other,
O high King of Heaven.

Till I am able
to pass into thy hands,
My treasure, my beloved,
through the greatness of thy love.

Be thou alone
my noble and wondrous estate.
I seek not men,
nor lifeless wealth.

Be thou the constant guardian
of every possession and every life.
For our corrupt desires are dead
at the mere sight of thee.

Thy love in my soul
and in my heart—
Grant this to me,
O King of the seven heavens.

O King of the seven heavens
grant me this—
Thy love to be in my heart
and in my soul.

With the King of all, with him
after victory won by piety
May I be in the kingdom of heaven
O brightness of the son.

Beloved Father,
hear, hear my lamentations;
Timely is the cry of woe
of this miserable wretch.

O heart of my heart,
whate'er befall me,
O ruler of all,
be thou my vision.

It remained for Eleanor M. Hull, in her 1912 Poem Book of the Gael to offer a metrical, poetic version of Byrne's work in twelve rhymed couplets that have been used by editors since to arrive at versions of the four-stanza hymn so widely treasured today.

Concurrently, Patrick W. Joyce was publishing the traditional tune SLANE (named for a hill near Tara where St. Patrick challenged druid priests in lighting the paschal fire). Thus paired with the English text, the "Be Thou My Vision" sung today first appeared in the Irish Church Hymnal in 1919.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1998/issue60/60h037.html

[Alexander's Horse]

Those are great Kid - thanks

I'm going to look up Meredith on U-tube.

[The Mad Monk]

Meredith

[Alexander's Horse]

thanks for the explanation too Monk

[Uncle Sparky]

The tune is 'Bunessan', a traditional celtic Irish tune. Like many traditional tunes, it has had many lyrics including this:

[Ben Kenobi]

Wow, AH did an interesting Threadjack here for St. Patty's day.

[Alexander's Horse]

no Ben, I got it back on-topic, we had some nice moments and all parted friends, so shut up and don't spoil it

thanks Sparky, yes traditional songs and hymns have many versions, that was interesting never heard it

[molly bloom]

btw, if there's something else on your mind

Since he became religulous, I'd say there's even more room to let there.

[Ben Kenobi]

shut up and don't spoil it

Like I said. Thank you!