How Patrick Got His Name

This post isn't too exciting, but it's sentimental to Behn and I, so I wanted to write this all down so I always remember.

Today Patrick was baptized.

My dad did the honors, as he did with Graham.

Patrick's baptism has made me dwell on how he got his name, which is actually tied to Graham's baptism.

Graham was baptized in March 2011. Of course, March is when many people celebrate St. Patrick's day, and Behn and I enjoy being a little Irish in March. A few nights before Graham was baptized, I had an extremely vivid and evil dream, which doesn't usually happen to me. It was the sort of dream where I felt an evil and dark presence, and even worse, during this dream I woke up to my babe crying out. He wasn't hungry or anything...and I absolutely knew we were under spiritual attack. I'm sure nothing makes us more vulnerable than raising children to love the Lord and belong to Him. Satan wants none of that! And so, I called upon the name of the Lord. After all, we are His and He will protect us. And He did. I didn't have any more dreams, and Graham was baptized and God was glorified.

I e-mailed my dad about the dream and feelings that evil had been near. He sent me these words of comfort, written by St. Patrick:

"I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet “Well done” in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

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.

I bind unto myself the Name,
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord."

(We sang parts of this hymn today at Patrick's baptism)

Anyway, the words are so comforting and strong. St.Patrick was clearly a dedicated missionary, lover of the gospel and servant to the Lord. Behn and I just fell in love with the name, and decided that our next son would probably be a Patrick.

Of course, Patrick is Patrick Wilford, and Wilford is in honor of his great-grandfather, who is another lover of the gospel and servant to the Lord:

And so here we are, with 2 baptized sons and much to be grateful for. God's hand is upon us!