Happy St. Patrick’s Day
March 17th, 2011
Whether or not the prayer below was written by St. Patrick is a point of contention, as most of his writing have long since disappeared, but it certainly takes it inspiration from him and is probably the work of christian druids
who rescued literature of antiquities during the fall of the roman empire and during the dark ages, Legends about St. Patrick’s deeds had begun to proliferate, and it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
What is known is that he exerted a powerful influence on Ireland, transforming her from a pagan country with many ancient religious practices, and beliefs into an Island of Poets and Scholars.
This Prayer is one of the most powerful I have ever read and I say it often.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
A prayer
I arise today through a mighty strength. The invocation of the trinity, through belief in the threeness, through the confession of the oneness of the “Creator of Creation.”
I arise today, through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism, through the strength of his Crucifixion with his burial, through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, through the strength of his descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today, through the strength of love of Cherubim, in obedience of angels, and in the service of Archangels. In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward and in the prayers of Patriarchs, and predictions of Prophets, and the preaching of Apostles, and in the faith of confessor’s, and in the innocence of Holy virgins and the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today from the strength of Heaven, light of sun, radiance of moon, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth, firmness of rock.
I arise through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me from the snares of Devils, from temptation of vices, from everyone who should wish me ill afar, and a near, alone or in multitudes. I summon today all these powers between me and those evils. Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul.
Against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of pagandom, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ to shield me today against poisoning, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so that there may come to me an abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in front of me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today through a mighty strength, through the invocation of the trinity, through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness of the “Creator of Creation.”
