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Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Dear Saint of our Isle!

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, dear Saint of our isle!
On us, thy poor children, bestow a sweet smile;
and now thou art high in the mansions above,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Hail, glorious Saint Patrick! Thy words were once strong,
against Satan's wiles and an infidel throng;
not less is thy might where in heaven thou art;
O, come to our aid, in our battle take part.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

In the war against sin, in the fight for the Faith,
dear Saint, may thy children resist unto death;
may their strength be in meekness, in penance, in prayer,
their banner the Cross which they glory to bear.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Thy people, now exiles on many a shore,
shall love and revere thee till time be no more;
and the fire thou hast kindled shall ever burn bright,
its warmth undiminished, undying its light.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,
where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,
and our hearts shall yet burn, wheresoever we roam,
for God and Saint Patrick, and our native home.
On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

2 comments:

Michael said...

Hmmm. Despite my earlier comment, it sounds much less twee than I remember.

Anonymous said...

Aw, now you're gonna make me cry... :)

Why at this time, by the way? Is S. Patrick celebrated at a different time of year by the Orthodoxen?

Peter