my victory won

 
✝
abbott handerson thayer
1849-1921
a virgin, 1892-93
oil on canvas
90 7/16 x 71 7/8 inches
freer gallery of art
~
irish hymn and prayer
be thou my vision
circa 700
translated by mary e. byrne in 1905
~
♱be thou my vision♱
i read the symbolism in this version
as an interpretation of scripture:
isaiah 43:2, romans 8:35-39, romans 12:12
~
...and more directly,
a visual narrative most likely meant to evoke the legend of st. patrick and the king of laoghaire of tara
in 5th century ireland.
the story states that the king had forbidden any fires be lit until the lighting of the royal fire on the hill of slane commencing the feast of tara, a pagan ritual.
st. patrick, in defiance of the king's decree, boldly lit the paschal fire.
tradition continues that the king, outraged, sought to come against patrick. however, each challenge and attack by the druids and their magic was met with defeat. remarkably, the king, fearful and perhaps, in no small measure, affected by patrick's act of faith and its power, spared him from the penalty of execution and allowed him to continue his missionary work.
worthy of note it is that the king and his followers would convert to Christianity.
several centuries later, dallán forgaill, a monk, wrote rop tú mo baile (be thou my vision)
in remembrance of st. patrick; honoring his faith and courage in Christ.