Ancient Order of Hibernians

I AM OF IRISH AMERICA

 

I AM OF IRISH AMERICA.  I AM A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS.

I AM OF A PEOPLE WHO FOR OVER EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS HAVE BENT A KNEE TO NO KING BUT THE

KING OF HEAVEN AND BOWED A HEAD TO NO QUEEN BUT THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.

 

I AM OF A DISPERSED PEOPLE SENT INTO SLAVERY TO BARBADOS, IN CHAINS TO AUSTRALIA AND IN

FAMINE TO AMERICA.

 

I AM OF A PEOPLE WHO TORE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR FATHER’S TREMBLING ARMS, KISSED THEIR

TEAR-STAINED MOTHER’S FACE GOODBYE, AND TRAVELLED ALL OVER THE WORLD TO KEEP A ROOF

OVER BELOVED HEADS AND FOOD ON THE HUNGRY TABLE.

 

I AM OF AN EMPIRE UPON WHICH NO SUN CAN SET.

 

FOR WHEREVER YOU GO IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD, WHEREVER A HOUSE OF GOD HAS RISEN,

WHEREVER AN HOUR OF LEARNING FOUNDED OR A TREE OF LIBERTY PLANTED BY LOVING HANDS AND WATERED BY THE TEARS OF AN IRISH EXILE, THERE YOU WILL FIND THE IRISH EMPIRE.

 

I THANK GOD FOR THE BLOOD OF MY FATHERS.

 

I THANK GOD FOR THE LAND OF MY BIRTH.

 

I PRAY THAT GOD WILL SAVE IRELAND.

 

I PRAY THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA.

 

 -WRITTEN BY FATHER DENIS O’BRIEN