Christ in our Island

This hymn about St Brigid of Kildare was translated from Latin by Sr Mary Francis Clare (d 1899). The original translation of the title was "In our island ...", but this is changed to "In Ireland" to make it suitable for use in other countries.

The original hymn, Christus in nostra insula, was written by St. Ultan of Ardbraccan

The tune is a traditional Cornish carol.

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Lyrics

In Ireland Christ was shown to all;
By Brigid’s saintly life;
Excelling all who came before, she conquered in the strife.
Like her no other saint was found, but Jesus’ mother blest:
Her virtues and her wonderous fame
Can never be expressed.

With holy fervor girdled round, the victor’s palm she gains;
And like the glorious sun above, in heaven refulgent reigns.
Then listen to this virgin’s praise
To Christ she gave her vow,
Faithful she kept it; her reward
Is reigning with him now.

The original Latin text, sometimes attributed to St. Ultan, Bishop of Ardbreccan, who died in 656/57 AD.

Christus in nostra insula
Que vocatur Hivernia
Ostensus est hominibus
Maximis mirabilibus
Que perfecit per felicem
Celestis vite virginem
Precellentem pro merito
Magno in numdi circulo.