Mike
Field Personnel in Waco, Texas
Although we live in a city, we are often reminded that the land beneath us was once a tropical rainforest. This was especially clear when a landscaper informed us he had found three cobras in our yard. The blood of my Irish ancestors stirred within me, reminding me of the legend of St. Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland. Clearly, Saint Patrick never made his way to our island in Indonesia.
Many of us have heard a portion of St. Patrick’s prayer: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me. I had heard those lines many times before, but only recently discovered the full prayer. Even in its shortened form, there is a sense of completeness, a prayer for Christ to fill and surround us, to be part of every action and to be present in all our interactions.
In its longer form, however, the Prayer of St. Patrick takes on the weight and rhythm of a creed, a profession of faith wrapped in prayer. It is a litany of trust and spiritual defiance, calling on the Triune God and the communion of saints, angels and creation itself to stand as a shield against evil.
While the legend of Patrick driving out the snakes may be just that, a legend, the invocation of his words still has power. This prayer can drive out the metaphorical serpents that seek to strangle and ensnare us, keeping us from what God would have us do. May you find comfort in this blessing and inspiration for your own prayers. And may the world see and hear Christ in us.
Prayer of St. Patrick
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.
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 the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The 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 shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and 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 an 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
Pray...Give...Go.
