St. Patrick's Breastplate
Celtic Christian hymn influenced by the ministry of St. Patrick
(460s-560 A.D.)
I rise today
With a mighty power, calling on the Trinity,
With a belief in the threeness
With a faith in the oneness, of the creator of creation
I rise today
With the power of Christ's birth and baptism,
With the power of his crucifixion and burial,
With the power of his resurrection and ascension,
With the power of his return for the final judgment.
I rise today
With the power of the love of the cherubim,
In obedience of angels, in service of archangels,
In hope of the resurrection and reward,
In the prayers of the patriarchs, in the foretelling of the prophets,
In the preaching of the apostles, in the faith of the confessors,
In the innocence of the holy virgins, in the deeds of righteous men
I rise today
With the strength of the sky, with the light of the sun
With the splendor of the moon, with the brilliance of fire,
With the blaze of lighting, with the swiftness of the wind,
Witht he depth of the ocean, with the firmness of earth,
With the strength of rock
I rise today
With the power of God to guide me
With the strength of God to raise me,
With the wisdom of God to lead me
With the vision of God to see for me
With the ears of God to hear for me
With the words of God to speak for me
With the hands of God to protect me
With the path of God before me,
With the shield of God to guard me,
With the friendship of God to keep me safe from
The contriving of demons, the temptations of sin,
The inclinations of my nature, and everyone who wishes me harm
Far and near, alone and in the crowd.
I summon today all those powers to protect me
Against every cruel force which may attack my body and soul
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the evil laws of unbelievers,
Against the false laws of heretics,
Against the subtle temptations of idolatry,
Against the magic of women (witches), blacksmiths (who were thought to have supernatural powers in celtic society) and druids,
Against every knowledge which corrupts body and soul
Christ protect me today
From poison and burning, from drowning and wounding
So that I might gain an abundant reward
Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ below me, Christ above me,
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye which sees me,
Christ in every ear which hears me.
I rise today
With a mighty power, calling on the Trinity
With belief in the threeness,
With faith in the oneness of the creator of creation.
