17 March 2011

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Statue of St Patrick from Agahower.Image via WikipediaI 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

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 the love of Cherubim and obedience of Angels
In the service of the Archangels
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward

In prayers of Patriarchs
In predictions of Prophets
In preachings of Apostles
In faiths of Confessors
In innocence of Holy Virgins
In deeds of righteous men

I arise today
through the strength of Heaven:
the light of Sun
brilliance of Moon
splendour of Fire
speed of Lightning
swiftness of Wind
and depth of Sea
stability of Earth
and 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 for me
God's hand to guide me
God's way to lie before me
God's shield to protect me
God's host to save me:

from snares of devils
against temptations of vices
against inclinations of nature
against 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 and merciless power that may oppress my body and my soul
against incantations of false prophets
against black laws of pagandom
against false laws of heretics
against the craft of idolatry
against spells of witches and wizards
against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul

Christ to shield me today
against poison
and 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 rise
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me

We arise today
Through a mighty strength
The invocation of the Trinity
Through belief in the Three-ness
Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator, of creation

Praise the Lord!
Shout to the Lord!

as sung by David Ruis

Sharing this today as it touches my spirit.

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2 comments:

Linda said...

Thanks for sharing that. What a mighty praise to our mighty God! I have the "Christ beside me..." stanza framed. We got it in Scotland, at Iona. It's powerful. Your message blessed me today!

Linda

Anonymous said...

Wow, I've never seen all of this before, just parts. Very powerful. Thanks Karin.