St. Patrick's Day Prayer!

Today is St. Patrick's Day, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick, one of the most famous saints in the world. He is the “Apostle of Ireland,” was a missionary to Ireland, and he helped convert Pagan Ireland to Catholicism.  

Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. -Saint Patrick

One legend states that when Saint Patrick lit the Paschal fire and celebrated the Easter mysteries in Tara, he greatly angered the Druids because they had a rule that no one cold light a fire until the Chief Druid kindled the sacred fire. The Druids then devised a plan to kill Saint Patrick, since he had broken that rule. They gave him a cupful of poison ale; however, Saint Patrick blessed the goblet with the words, “In Nomine Dei Patris," turning over the goblet, the poison alone fell out of it in front of all the Druids and guests. Saint Patrick’s trust in God was so great that death did not scare him.

Saint Patrick teaches us to have faith in God’s plan for our lives. He put his own life at risk to follow God’s call for him to be a missionary. Let us also trust in God even when the path seems to be impossible. Saint Patrick, pray for us that we will be able to follow God’s voice in our own lives, Amen.

ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

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,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of cherubim,

In the obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In the predictions of prophets,

In the preaching of apostles,

In the faith of confessors,

In the innocence of holy virgins,

In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through

The strength of heaven,

The light of the sun,

The radiance of the moon,

The splendor of fire,

The speed of lightning,

The swiftness of wind,

The depth of the sea,

The stability of the earth,

The 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 guard me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

afar and near.

I summon today

All these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel and 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 an 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.

Amen.  

Ta, Ta for Now!