Before the world was begun, O Lord
You had me in your mind
You gave me a place in your world, O Lord
To be gracious, forgiving and kind.
I tried and I failed and despaired, O Lord
But you raised me again and again
So I trust in your grace and your love, O Lord
To shepherd me through to the end.
You gave me a hearth and a home, O Lord
With parents to show me the way
A brother and sisters to keep me right
Whenever I tended to stray.
Your call to the priesthood was grace, O Lord
To peoples across the sea
With friendship and love to inspire me Lord
To be true to them and to You.
Every step that I take, O Lord
Every step is for you
Every breath that I breathe, O Lord
Every breath is for you.
Every beat of my heart, O Lord
Every beat is for you
So when I come to expire, O Lord
My life has been spent for you.
By Columban Fr. Michael Healy
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.