In 433 Saint Patrick wrote,

“I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.”*

In his binding to the virtues of the earth and sky, he sought or found protection from evil.

Before we even ask, we are bound to the virtues of sun and moon and earth and of all that goes with them and of that which they are part. What comes without asking theologians call grace. James Lovelock called it the Gaia Hypothesis. Charles Darwin called it the grand view. Joseph Wood Krutch called it the great chain of life.

Bind me too, Saint Patrick. Bind me too to the carefree strength of the bear, to the easy motion of the deer, and to the soaring wings of the birds. Bind me to their joy.

*This translation of part of Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is from The Catholic Encyclopedia at newadvent.org

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