Also Known as “The Breastplate of St. Patrick” and “The Lorica”
This powerful prayer was composed by Saint Patrick in the year 433. He was aware that there was an ambush to try to kill him and his group en route to the King’s court. It was during the march that they chanted the sacred Lorica or Deer’s Cry – later known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
As the druids lay in hiding, ready to kill, they saw not Patrick and his men, but a gentle doe followed by twenty fawns.
St. Patrick and his men were saved.
——————————
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise to-day
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s eyes to look before me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
From all who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul
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 to shield me,
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me.
I arise to-day
Original lyric: St. Patrick Breatplate
I bind unto myself today
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
聖巴特里克鎧甲歌 (舊普頌 330首)
1. 今我緊緊向我周身，繫主三一剛強之名，
繫主幫助引領權能，繫主扶持保護之恩；
垂聽之耳，看守之睛，指導之手，蔭庇之盾，
教訓之言，感動之聲，永生之道，永在之靈。
2. 今我緊緊向我周身，繫主基督道成人身，
繫主領洗約但河濱，繫主十架受死救人，
繫主脫離芳香之墳，繫主復活，乘雲上升，
繫主未日再降世塵：凡此神力，緊繫於身。
3. 今我緊緊向我周身，繫基路冰愛心之殷，
繫西拉冰事主之誠，繫主末日宣告“完成”，
繫眾烈士聖人之訓，先知之言，傳世之經，
一切歸主善良言行，一切歸主清潔靈魂。
4. 今我緊緊向我周身，繫彼羣星光明德性，
繫彼紅日輝煌生命，繫彼夜月皎潔晶明，
繫彼雷電光照聲鳴，繫彼風雨時作時停，
繫彼大地，博厚久恆，繫彼洋海，既廣且深。
5. 今我身繫種種權能，以破罪惡奸邪之阱，
以破試探引誘之因，以破心中情慾戰爭，
以破仇敵阻我行程，無論眾寡，無論遠近，
處處時時，向前猛進，攻破一切兇狂敵人。
6. 求主陪我，居我心間，求主在後，求主在前，
求主在旁，勝我罪愆，求主慰我，導我歸旋，
求主在下，求主在上，引我穩渡危險安康，
求進一切愛我心鄉，求臨親疎友朋舌上。
7. 今我緊緊向我周身，繫主三一剛強之名，
願能依賴禱告之誠，不離三一偉大權能。
讚美永生聖父，聖靈，萬物受造，有生重生；
讚美聖子，救贖我靈，萬民中保，天國之君。 阿們。
