This
haiku is something of an extension of “Haiku Meditations on the Church Year.”
It doesn’t fit there, of course, as ordinations are only performed as
needed. The occasion for writing the verse was the ordination to the
priesthood of Deacon James McCaskill at St.
Paul’s, Mt. Lebanon, on January 3, 2003. In the Episcopal Church,
a bishop always presides at ordinations and all local clergy
are invited to attend and participate. Ordinations are generally big
parish events. Although
the hymn usually known as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” is not a
required hymn at ordinations, it is sung more often than not, as it is
especially appropriate for such occasions. The words are attributed to
St. Patrick and were translated by Cecil Frances Alexander. The hymn
begins:
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I
bind unto myself today The
strong Name of the Trinity, By
invocation of the same, The
Three in One, and One in Three.1
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The
poem was written 1/3/2003. Nearly a year later, I wrote another poem
(“Martha’s Ordination”)
for a St. Paul’s ordination.
1The Hymnal 1982,
© 1985 Church Pension Fund.
Music courtesy of The
Oremus Hymnal. |
