Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Lorica (St. Patrick's Breastplate)


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 descent
    for the Judgement of Doom.

I arise today
  through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
  in obedience of Angels,
  in the service of Archangels,
  in the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
  in prayers of Patriarchs,
  in predictions of Prophets,
  in preachings 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 shield to protect 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.

I 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,
  agains 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 when I lie, Christ when 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 Threeness,
  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.