An Irish blessing on the feast of St Patrick.

Having noted, with interest, Pete's post on the Irish Bishop's decision to change the date of St Patrick's day - and me not having too much time for the decrees of 'Bishops', and also being a little bit of a stickler for 'feast days', today is St Patrick's day for me! PS, don't you love the Irish Steve Jobs picture!! I thought it was fantastic!!!

My mother is Irish (and my father is Scottish), so I have Celtic blood running deep within my veins! Some have said that I can drink, fight, and not spend any money doing so... But that's a different conversation altogether!

Let me start by wishing two of the Celts I know who read this blog a blessed St Patrick's day - blessings Gus and Paddy!

St Patrick is a special person in Christendom, he credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century (that would be the 400's for those who struggle to work out all this 'century' stuff). In popular (non-Celtic) Christendom St Patrick is perhaps best known for a hymn that he never even wrote! It is called St Patrick's breastplate - it is a prayer of blessing for a journey which was probably written in the 8th or 9th century (we know this because the structure and content resembles a 'druidic' a incantation of that period). However, regardless of when it was written it certainly has a strong resonance with both the spirituality and life of St Patrick.

I have often used it as a prayer before a special journey, and more frequently just as a prayer in preparation for a busy day - I have a printed copy just near my desk. Perhaps this prayer will be of some value to you as you prepare for the significant journey of this week.

This is no ordinary week, it is Holy Week, an opportunity for us to reflect on the significance of the passion, sacrifice, and suffering of Jesus Christ leading up to his death (on Holy Friday) and his resurrection to eternal life, winning victory of sin and death on our behalf, on resurrection Sunday. Please set some time aside to contemplate the miracle that God would take on our limited and weak human form, live our life, die our death, and do all this for the sake of our salvation.

St. Patrick's Breastplate is contained in the ancient Book of Armagh, from the early ninth century. along with Patrick's authentic "Confession." St. Patrick is said to have written this prayer to strengthen himself with God's protection as he prepared to confront and convert Loegaire, high king of Ireland. I see in it some similarities to Paul's exhortation to "put on the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-18), except that it is much more detailed. I recommend St. Patrick's prayer to you as a wonderful prayer of spiritual preparedness.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the 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 obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance 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 save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel 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 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.

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