I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

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 that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

St. Patrick's Breastplate

Create in me a clean heart, O God
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors thy ways
and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalm 51: 10 - 13

Thou mastering me
God! giver of breath and bread;
World’s strand, sway of the sea;
Lord of living and dead;
Thou hast bound bones and veins in me, fastened me flesh,
And after it almost unmade, what with dread,
Thy doing: and dost thou touch me afresh?
Over again I feel thy finger and find thee.

Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Wreck of the Deutschland , 1st stanza

I saw a Stranger yestreen,
I put food in the eating place,
drink in the drinking place,
music in the listening place,
and in the sacred name of
the Triune,
He blessed myself and my house,
my cattle and my dear ones
and the lark said in her song,
often, often, often
goes the Christ in the stranger's guise.

Gaelic Rune of Hospitality

Depth of Mercy! Can there be Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God his wrath forbear, and the Chief of Sinners spare?

Charles Wesley

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Lift me thou to Gates on High,
That I may live and never die.
Be Thy Holy Word my stay,
and guide me in the Narrow Way.

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I catch a wretched glimpse from beyond the Pale
conceived in an episode primordial
Fruit of the Spirit, Tree of Earth
Dance in fire, ancient occultations dire
The Age of Men rages on the mired
in tars and tribulations of Man's dearths.

---

Ere the Watcher gaze too fondly
upon horizons within and without
in your midst there lies a beauty
Far and wide its wings shall sprout

---

The one who comes to me unknown
may bring to bear me all my fear
to look upon my timid eye
and wail upon my cringing ear

And yet the lark of letters old
sings in heights, as to the spheres
The lasting Word of Christ on Earth
The Rock of Ages, the Balm of Years.

He comes a stranger, leaves the same
but myself, my Self is forever changed
not my fear, but love to bear
the hope and joy of Heaven arranged.