St. Patrick's Breastplate: A Christian Prayer for Protection

Kilbennan St. Benin's Church 
(Detail of stained glass window depicting St. Patrick with a shamrock in hand.)

Photo credit

St. Patrick

Although not officially canonized by the Catholic church, St. Patrick has been called a "saint" and recognized as an important figure in Christian history and literature. Below is a copy of a famous poem called "St. Patrick's Breastplate," also known as the "Lorica," or "Cry of the Deer." I read that it is not known if the author is Patrick, or someone who knew him and was inspired to write it in his tone. It is interesting to note his use of symbols in nature to teach theology. The three-leafed shamrock is used to illustrate that God is 3-in-1: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God as the Holy Spirit. This makes up the Trinity. (More here.)

A Prayer for Protection

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.

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.

(Found online here; a literal translation from the old Irish text to English.)

(A summary of meaning found on this page.)

(Available in Old Irish with English comparison here.)

Irish Blessings and Prayers

I'm sharing Irish blessings and prayers today. Crosswalk.com lists many of these here.

The story of St. Patrick reveals his testimony of Christ and his influence on Christian faith in Ireland in the 5th century. Irish prayers from this time period include references to nature and God's blessing for daily living. The words of blessing offer faith and hope to encourage us along the journey of life!

May The Lord Bless You

(A Judeo-Christian Blessing)

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, 
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, 
and give you peace.

Link to Read more 

May The Road Rise Up To Meet You

(Traditional Gaelic blessing)

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Link to Read more

A House Blessing

God bless the corners of this house
And be the lintel blessed.
Bless the hearth, the table too
And bless each place of rest.
Bless each door that opens wide
To stranger, kith and kin;
Bless each shining window-pane
That lets the sunshine in.
Bless the roof-tree up above
Bless every solid wall.
The peace of Man, the peace of love,
The peace of God on all.

Link to Read more

Blessings: A Gift from Above

The Definition

The word “blessing” is commonly used in everyday English. Where did it come from? What does it mean? I remember when I was a girl, if someone sneezed, just about everyone in the room (even at a store) would turn and say “Bless you!” or even in German, as an Americanism, “Gesundheit!” This is a request for God to bless you with good health.

An online dictionary defines it as: the act or words of a person who blesses; a special favor, mercy, or benefit (the blessings of liberty); or, a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

This act of kindness is either given or received. It often brings happiness, which although not exact, is similar, to the word “bliss.”

In scripture, the act of blessing is a theme that runs throughout the Old and New Testaments. An online keyword search in biblegateway.com for “blessing” returns 94 results! In Genesis, Abraham and his descendents were blessed by God according to their faith.

We could spend countless hours reading in literature of characters who choose to bless, or not to bless, to receive blessing(s), or to ignore blessing(s). 

The root of a blessing is goodness, as coming from God or God's people (godliness).

The Priestly Blessing

In the Old Testament, when Moses is preparing Aaron and his male descendants to be priests, the Lord instructed them how they ought to bless the Israelites, using the Lord’s name to bless them because the Lord’s name gives favor. In Numbers 6, we read:

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
When a minister reads this blessing as a closing benediction in a church service, it is a holy blessing from the Lord and gives favor to those present.

A Father's Blessing

The famous story of Isaac mistakenly blessing his son, Jacob, instead of the intended Esau, is found in Genesis 27:1-29. I wrote a previous blog entry about this story here.

The idea of needing a blessing is because someone is in a lowly state, uncertain about the future, or seeking favor. A blessing is a gift that encourages, strengthens, and sustains. As a parent, this teaches me how important it is to verbally bless my children, to encourage them and guide them by granting confidence in the future.

A Friendly Blessing

In Romans 15:1-13, the apostle Paul encourages the church in Rome to build up one another in love and peace in the name of Jesus. Verse 13 closes with a blessing, 

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

An Irish Blessing

Since this is the week of St. Patrick's, I will find some Irish blessings, which are always fun! To be continued...

Hearty Chicken & Rice Casserole

This is a very hearty meal for the cooler months. In addition to chicken and rice, this entree has broccoli and cheese, onions, and yellow squash mixed in with cream of celery, mushroom, and chicken soup.

This is not low-carb or fat-free, but the recipe can be modified a little by using reduced fat cheese and soup. Serves 8-12.

Hearty Chicken & Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

1 cup dried rice
2 lb. chicken, boneless, skinless
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped and lightly peeled if necessary
1 10-12 oz. package frozen broccoli and cheese sauce (or fresh broccoli)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 10 1/2 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 10 1/2 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 1/2 oz. can cream of celery soup
1 soup can of milk (about 10 oz.)
2 T. olive oil
Lawry's seasoning salt (no msg, if available)
salt
pepper

Preparation:

Cook white rice according to package instructions. One cup dried rice will be about 2 cups cooked. Set aside.

Cut up chicken into small pieces. In a large skillet, add olive oil and chicken. Cook until lightly browned and no longer pink. Set aside.

In another skillet, spray with cooking spray. Saute chopped onion and chopped yellow squash just a few minutes. This will cook more in the oven, so don't overcook it.

Prepare the packaged broccoli and cheese sauce in the microwave, or steam fresh broccoli.

Spray cooking spray in a large 2-inch deep casserole dish.

Spoon the rice into the bottom of the casserole dish. Then add cooked chicken. Lightly season this with salt, pepper, and Lawry's seasoning salt (optional).

Next, add onion, squash, broccoli and spread this to cover all the rice and chicken evenly.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the three cans of soup, and then add 1 can equivalent of milk. Stir well. Then pour all of this to cover the chicken and rice mixture.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 20-30 minutes or until very well heated (when it starts to bubble).

Take out of the oven and sprinkle 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese over the top evenly. Return to the oven for a few minutes just until the cheese is melted.

Serve in bowls with soup spoons.

Spiritual Rest: A Blessing from God

Hebrews 4:9-11

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Rest has been defined as "refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor."  Even the Bible describes God as having worked six days and then resting on the seventh day. This is why the church encourages taking a day off on Sunday to worship God and rest. But this type of rest is not just a pause from physical labor. It is also a time to restore spiritual strength. Another definition of rest is, "relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs." 

Sabbath Rest

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were learning how to keep a covenant relationship with the Lord. In Exodus 31:12-13, the Lord said to Moses, "You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy." The purpose of the rest here is not just physical, but spiritual, and also an acknowledgment of relationship with God and an act done out of obedience.

Psalm 91

The psalmist declared in Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

And then in verses 14-15:

"Because he [a person] loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

When we rest on the Sabbath, whichever day of the week it is, it should involve acknowledging God.

Sabbath Work

There are times when an employer does not acknowledge the name of God, and this would be the case when he or she requires employees to work seven days a week. Ethically, every person is usually given at least one day off, but it is not helpful when it is not on a "Sabbath" day when others are also taking off for corporate worship and rest. This sense of community and time for fellowship is very important for healing relationships, bonding with others in like-faith, and for doing good.

Disciples Picking Grain on the Sabbath

In the New Testament in Matthew 12, the disciples of Jesus were hungry on the Sabbath and they began to pick grain from a field so they could eat it. The Pharisees, looking to find fault with them and Jesus, questioned them for breaking the Old Testament law. When Jesus entered their synagogue, a man with a shriveled hand was there. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" 

Jesus said to them:"If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift if out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Then it is recorded that Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, and in his obedience, the man's hand was restored the same as the other hand. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. The healed man had acted in obedience and acknowledgement of the Lord, while the Pharisees were conspiring to find fault.

Application

From these passages, I am reminded that rest is vital for healthy living. Both physical rest and spiritual rest are important.

Our relationship with God requires that we acknowledge that He is our Creator, and in Him we find true healing and restoration.

By trusting in God, our faith gives us purpose, hope, comfort, strength, and healing. Even in our trials and ultimate death, we are promised His presence and His peace; ultimately, we are perfected in Heaven in Him (Rev. 21:4).

The Lord God honors those who honor Him and obey Him.

If we are going to work on the Sabbath (Sunday for Christians) then we better be doing good works!

Hamburger Stew

Here is an easy version of hamburger stew.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground hamburger meat
1 29 oz. large can of Veg All, homestyle cut vegetables
1 14 1/2 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 14 1/2 oz. can triple succotash (tomatoes, corn, butter beans)
1 14 1/2 oz. can cut green beans
Beef bouillon (no msg, if available)
Italian seasoning blend
Lawry's seasoning salt (no msg, if available)
Salt, pepper

Prep:

In a large soup pot, brown ground beef over medium high heat.  Drain. Season well with about a tablespoon of italian seasoning, Lawry's seasoning salt, pepper, and more salt if necessary.

Add canned tomatoes, succotash, Veg All, and green beans.

Break up a large beef bouillon cube, or enough bouillon granules to make about 4 cups of broth. Add to soup.

Return the soup to heat until it begins to boil, then turn down to medium and let simmer for at least 20 minutes. Any vegetables or beans can be used, but if they are raw, then they need to cook longer in the broth before serving. If you use both raw and canned vegetables, then cook the raw vegetables first and add the canned vegetables at the very end of the cooking time.

To slightly thicken the soup: In a small cup, mix 1 heaping tablespoon of corn starch with just enough cold water to be able to stir it. Mix well, then pour this into the boiling stew. Let cook a few minutes more.

Serve with crackers or cornbread. Enjoy!

Soup [soop], noun: 

- a liquid  food made by boiling or simmering meat, fish, or vegetables with various added ingredients.

Stew [stoo], verb]:

- to cook (food) by simmering or slow boiling.

Because He Lives, I Can Worship

I heard the beautiful song, "Because He Lives" this week. The lyrics are very inspiring, including the line, "Life is worth the living just because He lives." I searched for it online and came across a worship playlist (at this link). Three of the worship songs are below as videos with lyrics.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman

Because He Lives

It is Well with My Soul