St. Patrick's Breastplate--A Prayer

Warfare prayers have a long history in the life of God's people. Typically these are prayed aloud or sung. Verbalizing better enables us to focus our thoughts, appropriate the truth of our position and resources in Christ, and assert our firm stand against evil powers.

St. Patrick's Breastplate is a prayer attributed to the famous 5th century missionary to Ireland. It was written in the style of a druidic incantation for protection on a journey and was no doubt inspired by Ephesians 6:10-18.

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 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.