Magonus was born in Scotland and carried to Ireland against his will by pirates when he was a teenager. He was sold there as a servant, spending the next several years tending sheep on a mountain, learning the Irish language, and praying to God.

One day God spoke to him in a dream, telling him to escape and exactly how. He scurried to the coast where he caught a ship to freedom.
A few years later God spoke to Magonus in another dream. In this dream the people of Ireland were calling for help, begging Him to return. And so he did – to free the very people who had enslaved him.

He returned as a missionary who preached fearlessly and drove the snake of paganism from the country. We know him as Patrick, the preacher we celebrate today.
Legend has it that St. Patrick wrote a hymn and sang it as he walked the country preaching. The pagan leaders were out to kill him. His feet were blistered from the miles and his stomach often empty. He was himself tempted to stray from the very faith he preached. So he sang.

“St. Patrick’s Breastplate” was his war song, sung in defiance of the darkness and in praise of the Light he carried.

I read these lyrics this morning and immediately heard a tune in my head – not the best or most creative tune, but good enough to make me want to pull out my guitar and sing Patrick’s prayer over my own day and my own darkness.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

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.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.

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.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.

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 and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.
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 this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the empty tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself my Christ today.