Prayer - Saint Patrick's Breastplate

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Saint Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today

The strong name of the Trinity,

The invocation of the same,

The three in one and the one in three.

I bind this day to me forever,

By the power of Faith, Christ's Incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan River;

His death on the cross for my salvation; 

His bursting from the spiced tomb;

His writing up the Heavenly way 

His coming at the day of doom;

I bind unto myself today.

I bind them to myself the power

The great love of the Cherubim;

The sweet ‘well done’ in the judgment hour; 

The sweet service of the Serafin,

Confessors' Faith, Apostles’ word,

The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls.

All good deeds done unto the Lord, 

And the purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit Heaven,

The glorious sun’s life-giving rays,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirlwind’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,

God’s eyes to watch, God’s might to stay, 

God’s ear to hearken to my every need.

The wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to God, issue to Ward;

The word of God to give me speech,

The host of heaven to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptations force,

The natural lust that wars within,

The hostile ones that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place, in all hours

Against their first 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 hearts idolatry,

Against the Wizards’ evil craft, 

Against death-wound and the burning

The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,

Protect me, Christ, until your 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 and quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in the mouth of a 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 the one in three,

Of whom all nature has creation;

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Morning Prayer, The Celtic Liturgy, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK),
2008, ISBN 978-0-281-06096