Lorica of St. Patrick

I am currently using a devotion by Jonathan Gibson entitled Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship. I have found it to be a ritualistic grounding in my time with the Lord, for which I am deeply grateful. In my time with the Lord this morning I came across this prayer from St. Patrick.

I bind myself today:
To the powers of God to guide me
To the might of God to uphold me.
To the wisdom of God to teach me.
The eye of God to watch over me.
The ear of God to hear me.
The word of God to speak to me.
The way of God to lie before me.
The host of God to defend me.
Amen.

This small, yet mighty prayer is part of a longer prayer known as the Lorica of St. Patrick. It’s a deeply covenantal prayer that invokes the power of the Holy Trinity against spiritual darkness. I wanted to pause this morning to think slowly of the implications of this prayer. What follows below is my feeble effort to expand this small section of his wonderful prayer.

I bind myself today by declaring that God is both my Lord and Savior. Thus, he is the King that rules over me, the Shepherd that rescues me from the mouths of lions, and the Spirit that comforts me in times of distress. By binding myself to him I make claim to his precious promises as a child of God. Therefore, in both humility, faith, and desperation…

I plea that the powers of God might guide me. God is almighty. Although I am limited in power, God is not. By his power, his inherent omnipotence, God can guide me over my greatest obstacles and through the darkest storms.

I plea that the might of God might uphold me. God is infinite. Although I am finite, God is not. By his might, his inexhaustible infinitude, God can uphold me when I grow weary and faint. Even when I am exhausted in all ways–physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually–God is mighty enough to uphold and carry me.

I plea that the wisdom of God might teach me. God is omniscient. Although my wisdom is shortsighted, God is not. By his omniscience, his all encompassing wisdom, God might teach me when I am confused and lost. When all hope seems lost God shifts my perspective, so that I might trust in him.

I plea that the eye of God might watch over me. God is omnipresent. Although my sight is limited, God’s is not. By his omnipresence, his everywhereness, God can see all that is behind me, around me, and before me. Even when I forget his faithfulness he can remind me. Even when I do not know of the dangers that lie around me He can protect me both now and forevermore.

I plea that the ear of God might hear me. God is merciful. Although my voice is weak, God’s ear is not. By his mercy, his overwhelming grace, God stoops so that he might hear me. Even when I know not what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf in groanings too deep for words.

I plea that the word of God might speak to me. God is revealed. Although my knowledge of God is limited, God reveals himself to his people. By his deep desire to be known, his amazing revelation to his people, He makes himself known to me through his creation and his son. 

I plea that the way of God might lie before me. God is righteous. Although my righteousness fades, God’s does not. Through his infinite righteousness, his deep and wide goodness, the Lord not only covers me in the blood of Christ but also unites me through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Therefore, even though my flesh is weak, I am made strong and righteous.

I plea that the host of God might defend me. God is a shelter. Although I am deeply exposed by my enemies, God is my great protector. Through his deep zeal for me, his unwarranted protection, God shields me from death and darkness. Even when I either unknowingly or willingly submit myself to the powers of darkness, God shields me and defends me from those that might seek to hurt me.

This is my plea. This is my prayer. This is inheritance. All of this I submit to the throneroom of God by the blood of his son Jesus Christ. It is by his holy, precious name that I offer my feeble mumblings. Amen.

I sincerely hope that these words from St. Patrick and myself might bless you today. Our God is so good. He is steadfast and faithful. His promises to us should be our greatest treasure. If you’d like to reflect more you can find the full prayer of St. Patrick below.

Lorica of St. Patrick: The Breastplate Prayer

St. Patrick 377

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 multitude.

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