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And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Christ be with me, Christ within me

Representative Text

[Verses 1-4 are at #639a]

5 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.

[Verse 6 is at #639a]

Source: Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #639b

Author (attributed to): St. Patrick

Patrick, St., the 2nd Bishop and Patron Saint of Ireland, was the son of Calpurnius, a deacon, and grandson of Potitus, a presbyter, and great grandson of Odissus, a deacon, was born most probably near Dumbarton, in North Britain, in 372. According to his epistle to Coroticus, his father was also a decurio, a member of the local town council, and a Roman by descent. Hence probably the name Patricius. St. Patrick alludes in Coroticus, § 5, to his having been originally a freeman, and of noble birth. His birthplace is termed in his Confession, § 1, Bannavem Taberniæ. Some have identified that place with Boulogne-sur-Mer, in France. His mother's name was Concessa, said to have been sister of St. Martin of Tours. According to Tirechan's Coll… Go to person page >

Translator: Cecil Frances Alexander

As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (b. Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland, 1818; Londonderry, Ireland, 1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf. Alexander was strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement and by John Keble's Christian Year. Her first book of poetry, Verses for Seasons, was a "Christian Year" for children. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandment… Go to person page >

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)
Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #639b

Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #639c

Hymnal #442

Text

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #407

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #639b

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #639c

TextPage Scan

The Christian Life Hymnal #6a

TextPage Scan

The New English Hymnal #278

TextPage Scan

Voices United #318

Worship His Majesty #165

Include 3 pre-1979 instances
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