Hymn History: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
We have been thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of how some of the great hymns of our faith were written. Each synopsis has been compiled through the...
Hymn History: Count Your Blessings
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” - Psalm...
![Eochaid is not a name you hear every day. However, that is the given name of the ancient follower of the Lord Jesus. In the late 6th and early 7th century, poetry and education were gaining huge importance in Ireland. Eochaid was better known as Dallan Furgail, a nickname derived from his place of birth and the fact that he was a blind man. Born into a noble family, Furgail “was early [recognized] as the royal poet and greatest scholar in Ireland” (A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, 1877). He distinguished himself in spite of one huge hurdle - he was blind. Not only did he survive, he excelled in the study of poetry, literature, and theology. Reflect on this - a blind man penned the poem/prayer that would ultimately become Be Thou My Vision. Eochaid, a blind man, penned the poem/prayer that would ultimately become Be Thou My Vision. It was set to tune in honor of St. Patrick.](https://b3411962.smushcdn.com/3411962/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Be-Thou-My-Vision-2-1024x576.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=0 "Be Thou My Vision 2")
