Learn the story behind Saint Patrick’s breastplate Prayer
By this sign,
conquer.
Just before fighting his rivals for the throne of the Roman Empire—pagan rivals who likely would have renewed the fierce persecutions against Christians started by Diocletian—Saint Constantine saw the Cross of Christ appear the sky with these words. Photo of the Cross planted in the field behind St. Patrick’s Orthodox Mission.
Lighting the Forbidden Flame of Faith
About the year 433 AD, the High King of Ireland, Laughaire, summoned Saint Patrick to Tara. By lighting the Easter fire, Saint Patrick had blasphemed a pagan festival, dishonoured the King, and broken the law. For a former slave of the Island, the death penalty seemed certain. Nevertheless, Saint Patrick braved the danger for the chance to secure the king’s permission to evangelise the island.
Perhaps Saint Patrick suspected the truth: that the king’s men were waiting to ambush and kill him in the dark forest between Slane and Tara. Placing the mission in God’s hands, he and his companions arose on Easter Sunday, and set forth. On their way, they sang the following hymn of protection. In Latin, the breastplate of a Roman soldier is called the “Lorica,” and this prayer is sometimes called Saint Patrick’s Lorica. Although the soldiers waited, they saw passing by only a small group of deer.
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The Text in English
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity
Through belief in the threeness
Through confession of the Oneness
Towards the creator.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ 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 decent for the Judgement of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim
In obedience to the Angels,
In the service of the Archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of Holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun
Brilliance of moon
Splendor of fire
Speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind
Depth of sea
Stability of earth
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 way to lie before me,
God’s host to secure me
against snares of devils
against temptations of vices
against inclinations of nature
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear,
alone and in a crowd.
A summon today all these powers between me and these evils
Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of heathenry,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning,
against drowning, against wounding,
so that there may come 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 where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise
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.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Thrones,
Through confession of the Oneness
Towards the Creator.
Salvation is of the Lord
Salvation is of the Lord
Salvation is of Christ
May thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.