Be Thou My Vision is my very favorite hymn. It is probably best known for its classic Irish melody which most probably begin to hum at the very mention of the tune. However, it is also a hymn rich with tradition and spiritual depth. 

A Brief History of Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou My Vision is steeped in Irish history that we may not immediately associate with the song. Specifically, it commemorates one of the greatest acts by the beloved Saint Patrick. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and brought to Ireland as a boy. Here he was sold into slavery. However, it was during this time that Patrick experienced his conversion. After time, he escaped and returned home. Eventually, he was ordained a priest and bishop. However, it was his sincere desire to return to Ireland to convert the pagan people living there. 

At the time, the people of Ireland practiced a pagan druid religion. King Logaire of Tara had declared that no fire could be lit before the pagan festival was begun by the lighting of a fire on Slane Hill. The decree was punishable by death. Saint Patrick, who was familiar with the Irish pagan religious practice, launched his ministry by lighting the Easter fire thereby challenging the dominion of the pagan druids and announcing Christ as the One True God. King Logaire was so impressed by the confidence and preaching of Saint Patrick that rather than executing him, he granted Saint Patrick permission to perform his missionary activity. 

The lyrics of the song are taken from a poem composed approximately three centuries after the great event. The Irish poem is entitled, “Rop tú mo Baile” or Be Thou my Vision. The reflection of the great event can be seen in several verses which refer to the breastplate, the sword, and the declaration of God as the High King.  

Reflecting on the Lyrics

1. 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 and by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

2. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I thy dear child;
Thou in me dwelling, with thee reconciled.

3. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tow'r;
Raise thou me Heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

4. Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

5. High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'ns Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

In addition to the rich history, the hymn is also filled with spiritual depth. The hymn begins in verse one by seating God at the center of our life, “Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me save that thou art.” Thus, God is firmly planted at the center. Nothing else can displace Him is all else naught by comparison. 

Verse two then orients our relationship to God. “Thou my great Father, I thy dear child; Thou in me dwelling, with thee reconciled” Our identity as children of God is the source of that relationship. God dwells within us, and His indwelling redeems us. Now reconciled, we have the gift to live always in the Father’s presence, “I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.”

Verse three harkens us back to the triumph of Saint Patrick, recalling his breastplate. It also reminds us that just as Patrick had to battle for the souls of Ireland, so too must we prepare to battle sin and vice. Heaven must be won, though not on our own power. “Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tow'r; Raise thou me Heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.”

Verse four reechoes the theme of verse one. It returns to God’s place at the center. “Thou and thou only, first in my heart,”. Again, all else pails in value by comparison, “Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise.”  Thus, God is the one thing necessary. “High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.”

Verse five then returns back to the themes of verse three. “High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'ns Sun!” We turn our sights toward heaven again, knowing our hope is in the Lord for he is our center so long as we keep our vision on Him. “Heart of my heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.”

Hopefully, this brief reflection helps you treasure this great hymn a little more. I pray that it be a source of beauty and spiritual depth that you can draw on again and again.