Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou My Vision

Scripture Meditation

Numbers 12:6b "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Words: Attributed to Dallan Forgaill, 6th Century (Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride); translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne, in “Eriú,” Journal of the School of Irish Learning, 1905, and versed by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912, alt.

Dallan Forgaill is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. According to legend he was a great scholar who went blind by much reading. He wrote a poem in honor of St. Columba and his sight was restored upon its publication. He was murdered by pirates in 598 AD and his head was thrown into the sea. His head was miraculously reattached to his body.

The tune, Slane, is apparently named for Slane Hill about ten miles from Tara in County Meath. It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Patrick defied High King Logaire of Tara by lighting a fire there on Easter Eve before Logaire lit one himself on Tara Hill to begin the pagan spring festival. Logaire was apparently impressed with Patrick's devotion. Despite Patrick's defiance, King Logaire allowed him to continue his missionary work. St. Patrick was from Scotland and played a crucial role in converting the Druids and pagans of Ireland to Christianity. St. Patrick is remembered by the shamrock, which he often used in explaining the Trinity to the Irish.