St. Patrick’s Prayer: “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.”
A condensed version of the prayer is occasionally recited:
“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.”
This Weeks Biblical Lesson:
Key Scripture Passages:
* Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
* Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
* Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Reflection:
The St. Patrick’s Breastplate stands as a resolute declaration of faith, imploring the triune God for unwavering strength and protection. The prayer is replete with the profound biblical truth that God is our steadfast shield, our source of wisdom, and our guiding light, ever-present and omnipotent.
The invocation of the Trinity affirms the unity and strength inherent in God’s nature—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who collectively sustain creation and fortify our faith (Matthew 28:19).
This resonates with the spiritual armor Paul delineates in Ephesians 6:10-11, reminding believers that genuine strength emanates not from human capabilities but from God’s provision.
Furthermore, the prayer recalls the pivotal milestones of Christ’s journey—His birth, baptism, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension—as sources of power. This mirrors the triumph we derive from Jesus, as evidenced in Romans 8:38-39, where Paul asserts that nothing can sever us from God’s love.
The Breastplate also solicits the strength of angels, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and saints—those who have faithfully lived before us. This parallels Hebrews 12:1, which speaks of the “great cloud of witnesses” encouraging us to persevere steadfastly in our faith journey.
Lastly, the repetitive phrase “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me…” embodies the divine assurance of God’s presence in every facet of life. This encapsulates the essence of Christian faith—God is not distant but intimately interwoven into our daily existence.
Application:
Don the Armor of God Daily: Commence each day in prayer, invoking God’s strength and wisdom to guide your actions.
Stand Firm in the Presence of Christ: Reckon that Christ surrounds you—there is no circumstance in which He is absent or powerless.
Draw Strength from the Testimony of Others: Draw inspiration from the saints and biblical figures who exemplified unwavering faith.
Live with Boldness: Allow your faith to be a declaration of trust in God’s protection and provision.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we arise today through the strength of Your Name. May we stand firm in the knowledge that Christ is present in our lives, guiding us from behind and within us. Clothe us in Your armor, enabling us to walk in faith and truth. Shield our hearts, protect our souls, and direct our steps, so that we may honor You in all our endeavors. In Jesus’ name, Amen 
The Breastplate of St. Patrick serves as a powerful reminder that our strength lies not within ourselves, but in Christ, who envelops us with His presence and safeguards our journey. Amen 
Whispers of Grace 
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