A St. Patrick’s Day Prayer of Protection

It’s not your typical St. Patrick’s Day. Life has changed practically overnight for all of us. It’s a strange and hard reality.

There is fear, uncertainty, disappointment. Along with resolve, hope, and determination.

When the entire world finds itself in a battle, we must do everything we can to be wise and support one another to fight the COVID-19 virus. (–> CDC Guidelines).

And yet, times like these reveal the uncertainty of life and our need for greater strength beyond ourselves, for a truth that transcends all understanding, and a hope that we are never alone.

Written in the 5th century, St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer is exactly what I need today in 2020, and I hope it speaks to your soul as well.

Praying this for all my fellow humans today! Be wise and look to the source of all Wisdom.

Excerpts from St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer

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.
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

• • •

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 guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul

• • •

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.

• • •

A few additional items:

For the full prayer and historical background, read more HERE.

One of my favorite apps, Abide, produced this meditation on the Breastplate Prayer – I highly recommend as a peaceful way to fall asleep tonight, or for a 15 minute respite from the day!