SAINT PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE
So much has happened over this past week. For many of us, the world feels rather flipped on its head and the talk of so many lips has been consumed with “viruses”, “pandemics”, “government overreach”, and “social distancing”. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, however, one thing came and went with quietly normal precision.
The holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.
His story is truly powerful. Kidnapped from his homeland of England as a young man to be sold as a slave in Ireland, escaping six years later by the miraculous leadership of the Holy Spirit only to be called back to Ireland as a missionary through a dream, the man who would come to be canonized by the Catholic church was a true picture of fearless faith and bold Christianity. Constantly challenged, hunted, in danger of those hostile to the message of Jesus (Ireland being populated almost completely by pagans and druids in the 5th century), Patrick certainly had ample opportunity each and every day to “curl up in a fetal position” and give up, surrendering to the fear and death so rampantly pursuing him.
Instead, he strapped on his armor.
What follows is simply known as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”. It is the prayer Patrick himself wrote to confess where his hope lay and to proclaim how and why he could walk so dauntlessly in the midst of seemingly countless foes.
I pray his words inspire us to do the same!
“I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the 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 Day.
“I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
“I arise today
Through 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 today,
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 from 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 snare of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
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 poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in 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, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.”
CHOOSE HEROIC,
CHRISTIS JOY
