St. Patrick's Breastplate
(sometimes called "Paddy's Vest"!)
So, apparently today is St. Patrick's Day. Who knew? ;c)
Green beer (and rivers, and everything else) aside, today's actually a religious holiday. Granted, I don't do saints, and if I did, everything I've heard of him makes me think I'd dislike St. Patrick on personal grounds. But damned if he hasn't got the most beautiful prayer ever.
So in the spirit of the day, "St. Patrick's Breastplate" (version by Heather and Royston Woods).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
See also the much longer version my mother posted a while back.
(p.s. The icon is not meant to suggest that the Breastplate is in any way depraved. It's just my new all-things-Celtic icon, and it does actually fit for most Celtified posts. Just, apparently, not this one.)
So, apparently today is St. Patrick's Day. Who knew? ;c)
Green beer (and rivers, and everything else) aside, today's actually a religious holiday. Granted, I don't do saints, and if I did, everything I've heard of him makes me think I'd dislike St. Patrick on personal grounds. But damned if he hasn't got the most beautiful prayer ever.
So in the spirit of the day, "St. Patrick's Breastplate" (version by Heather and Royston Woods).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
See also the much longer version my mother posted a while back.
(p.s. The icon is not meant to suggest that the Breastplate is in any way depraved. It's just my new all-things-Celtic icon, and it does actually fit for most Celtified posts. Just, apparently, not this one.)