This is the late Colin Smith‘s stately setting of the Breastplate of St Patrick. The text he uses is adapted by Hugh Sharpe.
The sheet music is available to purchase at Willow, along with sample pages and a snippet to listen to.
This the traditional text:
1 Christ be near at either hand,
Christ behind, before me stand;
Christ with me where’er I go,
Christ around, above, below.2 Christ be in my heart and mind,
Christ within my soul enshrined;
Christ control my wayward heart;
Christ abide and ne’er depart.3 Christ my life and only way,
Christ my lantern night and day;
Christ be my unchanging friend,
Guide and shepherd to the end.
This is the adaptation:
1 Christ be near at either hand,
Christ behind, before me stand;
Christ with me where’er I go,
Christ around, above, below.2 Christ be in my heart and mind,
Christ within my soul enshrined;
Christ my strength and shield in strife;
Christ defender of my life.3 Christ my guide along the way,
Christ my light at cease of day;
Christ be my unchanging friend,
Christ my shepherd to the end.4 Christ my comfort when I rest,
Christ beloved and welcome guest;
Christ abide and n’er depart,
Christ live always in my heart.
Amen
Music © 2002 Colin D. Smith Published by Willow Publishing.