The Lorica of Saint Patrick

Ancient Texts and Lore ^ | 377 A.D. | St. Patrick

[La Enchiladita]

Lorica of Saint Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the 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 guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes 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 women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

[La Enchiladita]

This thread is for discussion of Patrick and this most wonderful, passionate prayer, our Christian faith and/or Ireland or whatever you like that’s related. But, this is not a religion thread or a Catholic thread, so I ask that those pings and long posts not be made, thank you.

[La Enchiladita]

May he bless the Gathering of Eagles ping.

[fatima]

I just said this prayer.My daughter was queen of the St Patrick's day parade about 10 years ago.I bought her a beautiful gown and she wore a tiara.Mary our youngest one was jealous and said she wanted to ride in the carriage too.The men lifted her up-she was 4 at the time-put a sash on her and she was the mini queen.All the young Irish gentlemen came up the carriage and presented their cards of introduction to my daughter or had another gentleman introduce them.It was too fun.

[rwa265]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful prayer. I was familiar with the "Christ with me" part of it, but I did not realize there was so much more to the prayer. It touched my heart.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

A great-hearted loving person at a time when the world that the West had known at that time was starting to fall apart with the collapsing of the Roman Empire, his willingness to answer God's call set the stage not only for the conversion of Ireland, but with the founding of Irish Monasticism, allowed an important safe haven for literacy and learning for the dark days that would follow. And his life overlaps that of the historical figure behind the King Arthur legends.

A man of deep feeling, who loved God passionately, and out of that love, bravely went where he was sent and changed his corner of the world.

But I'm not exactly sure he would like how America celebrates his feast day!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Cecil Alexander's singable working of the Lorica (the tune is at the link)

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/stpatric.htm

[Knitting A Conundrum]

And being the Queen of the Googlers, I leave you some links to learn more about St. Patrick:

A synopsis of his history:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/PATRICK.HTM

His Confessions (not the only thing on this page, but also not a long read:

http://www.catholicfirst.com/thefaith/catholicclassics/stpatrick/shieldstpatrick.cfm

Kid activities suitable for teaching about St. Patrick's day:
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/seasonalholidays/st_patricks_day/

All sorts of St. Patrick lore and writings:
http://web.ncf.ca/bj333/ppaat.html

[GodBlessUSA]

This is beautiful. My Mom in law just sent this to me in a card. Thanks so much Dita! :)

[JimRed]

Christ be near at either hand, Christ behind, before me stand;

Christ with me where e'er I go, Christ around, above, below.

[La Enchiladita]

Lovely, JimRed. Thank you. St. Patrick was passionate about Christ.

[La Enchiladita]

Green beer has never passed my lips, Knitting!!

;^)

[La Enchiladita]

It touched my heart.

I am so very glad.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Nor mine!

[La Enchiladita]

Ireland became known forever as the "Land of Saints and Scholars" during and after Patrick's time... so it did.;^)

[driftless2]

I think he would grab a Guinness and holler "Erin go bragh".

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Yah, but not quite as many as some of our compatriots will drink that day...

[La Enchiladita]

Can't listen at work, but the Lorica is beautiful as a sung chant and fits perfectly into the Mass, especially during the Eucharist...

[La Enchiladita]

And ... of course ... you have saved pictures of this event... :)

[fatima]

I don't like to take pictures.Maybe Rachael has some.I think there is one when she was crowned,that was fun and she was in 3 parades-maybe 4.