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.)

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...

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!

Psalm 23 - The Good Shepherd

This well-known passage is recited often at funerals and other church services and is a source of comfort.

A psalm of David. Copied from biblegateway.com.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death

Years ago, I was introduced to a book on this psalm, and I highly recommend it. It is titled, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," written by W. Phillip Keller.

The author explains the role and significance of the shepherd and how he takes care of his sheep. In the Bible, this illustration compares the Lord, Our God, as The Good Shepherd and people as His sheep.

Imagine a field of sheep, wandering about, grazing, falling over, maybe appearing confused at times! But when the sheep hear the voice of their Shepherd, they know where to go, what to do, and at times they are rescued from danger or peril. 

Reread Psalm 23, imagining yourself at the mercy and care of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus was quoted as saying in John 10:7-11,

Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers,but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

Christ the Good Shepherd
by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

This is probably one of my favorite paintings of all time. It is a beautiful image of Christ as the Good Shepherd, painted by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo in the 17th century.

What Christmas Is All About

The greatest gift I ever received was around Christmas time. It brought great news, joy, hope, and peace, all wrapped up in a story that changed my heart. Long before I understood the Christmas story, I have memories of listening to Linus from the Peanuts comic tell the Christmas story. (posted below)

It is a story that is told every year, although some have never heard it. It can be found in the books of Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2. (links direct to Bible Gateway)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Isaiah 7:14)

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Video of Linus telling the Christmas story on the Charlie Brown cartoon:

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLzGawC_Pt4

New Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lam. 3:22-23)

Relying on God

In Exodus 15, Moses and the Israelites sing a song of praise to the Lord for helping them escape Pharaoh. As Moses lifted his staff, the waters of the Red Sea parted, and the Israelites were able to cross on dry ground. All night, the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided with a wall of water on their right and their left. All of the Egyptian horses, chariots and horsemen pursued the Israelites into the sea; as soon as the Israelites were safely crossed, the Lord instructed Moses to stretch his hand back over the sea so that the waters would flow back into place at daybreak. The Israelites saw the great power of God against the Egyptians, feared the Lord, and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.

Shortly after this miracle, Moses led them into the Desert of Shur. For three days, they traveled without food or water. When they finally came to a place with water, they couldn't drink it because it was bitter (Marah). They began to grumble and complain. Moses cried to the Lord for help. The Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the bitter water, and it turned sweet, so they could drink it.

Being Tested--What Is It?

The Israelites were beginning a time of testing by God in the wilderness for 40 years until they would reach the border of Canaan, the promised land. They were told to pay attention to the commands of the Lord and keep his decrees, and He would protect them from disease.

In the Desert of Sin, the Israelites were hungry and complained that if only they could still be slaves in Egypt, they would have food to eat! They had already forgotten how far they had come by escaping the Egyptians.

The Lord heard their complaining, and promised to provide them with food. That night, quail appeared for them to eat meat. Then the next morning, a layer of dew covered the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes of bread remained. They said, "What is it?" because they had never seen this strange type of food. Moses told them it was their daily bread the Lord would be providing for them.

They had to gather the bread (manna) every morning. This would be a reminder to them that their provision comes from God. They could only gather what they needed for the day. If they tried to store up extra until morning, it would be covered with maggots and smell. On the sixth day, they were allowed to gather double so they would have plenty for the seventh day (Sabbath), a day of rest.

Application

Even today, much can be learned and applied from this Old Testament story. It is good to acknowledge God as the source of what we have. He gives us rules to humble us and keep us mindful of His power and presence. Even when we trust that our needs will be met, the Lord honors discipline and daily work (gathering food). Sometimes the Lord uses other people in the transaction of needs being met (Moses interceded for drinkable water). If we have enough for today, we should be content (not worry about tomorrow). If we work hard while we can, we can enjoy a day of rest!

ABC's of Christian Faith

As a fun Bible exercise, I tried to remember scripture verses for each letter of the alphabet. It worked for most letters, with some minor exceptions, especially depending on which Bible translation was used.

While I was searching online for images, I found a "Gospel Alphabet" already done! It was shared by a blogger at this link. All verses below were found at BibleGateway.com. Enjoy, and come up with another list!

A

"...All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NASB)

B

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right
to become children of God." (John 1:12 NASB)

C

"Create in me a clean heart O God;
and renew a steadfast spirit in me." (Psalm 53:10 NIV)

D

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves." (Phillipians 2:3 NIV)

E

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive
to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12 NIV)

F

"The fool says in his heart there is no God." (Psalm 53:1 NIV)

G

"God opposes the proud,
but gives favor to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5b NIV)

H

"... Be holy, [God says],
because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16 NIV)

I

Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

J

"Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22 NASB)

K

"Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead." (2 Timothy 2:8)

L

"Let us love one another. Love is from God." (1 John 4:7)

M

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you." (1 Peter 1:2 ESV)

N

"Now without faith it is impossible to to please God." (Hebrews 11:6 HCSB)

O

"Obey your leaders and submit to them." (Hebrews 13:17 HCSB)

P

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is
to look after orphans and widows and
keep oneself unspotted by the world." (James 1:27)

Q

"...Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19 ESV)

R

"...Reject foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they breed quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:23 HCSB)

S

"...Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 HCSB)

T

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." (Hebrews 13:6)

U

"...Understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:17)

V

"...Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord..." (Hebrews 10:30 AMP)

W

"We love because He [God] first loved us." (1 John 4:19 AMP)

X

"Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Y

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people." (1 Peter 2:10)

Z

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11)

Prayer, Faith, and Trusting God

The Importance of Prayer

Jesus taught us to pray in the New Testament. This was the prayer that our church congregation recited every Sunday morning by memory when I was growing up. Today, it still reminds me how I ought to pray, although I often forget.

Matthew 6:9-13, King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Challenge to Pray

I am often too "busy" to pray at length, but I have been recently challenged to spend more time in prayer. I began a list of specific family, friends, projects, personal goals or needs, etc. to pray for during a time I set aside, either during a quiet devotional time or while I am walking. For anyone reading this, join me in this challenge, even if it is only 2-3 times a week at first.

How to Pray

Praying is simply talking to God, either verbally or in one's mind. It acknowledges a relationship with our Creator, and it exercises faith. I recited many prayers as a child during Sunday school or church, and I did believe in God, but it was not until I was 15 that I actually prayed a fervent prayer of faith.

This was a prayer that acknowledged my need for God to be with me, not just an idea but more of a daily source of trust and companionship with the Almighty God. It went something like this:

"God, if You are there, and you truly hear my prayer. I need You to be with me, to save me, and to help me."

The words of the psalm below often remind me of how I felt at one emotional low point:

Psalm 40:2, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 

He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.

"Thank you, Lord, for the times when you have delivered me from trials or danger, sadness, or pain. Please continue to guide my steps, and keep me safe in Your presence."

Prayer Guidebook
Our prayers are more effective when we truly believe in the power of prayer, and we pray according to God's will, or biblically (not just for things we want).

I did an online search for prayer resources, and I found this helpful list of scripture references (see the Praying In Victory and Praying Scriptures links below) to use during prayer times, as a reminder of the promises we can claim in the presence of God.

Each page is categorized by need, and it is has been translated in a few other languages. Thank you, PrayingInVictory.com and PrayingScriptures.com for these online websites!

Psalm 145

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)