Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP wrote a wonderful piece on the Prayer of St Patrick also known as the St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Below is his article.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate (also called the Lorica, from the Latin word for Roman armor) is a prayer to take up arms in spiritual battle. Summoning the forces of heaven to combat the armies of hell, this prayer attributed to the Apostle of Ireland contains a wealth of theological wisdom. Take a moment to pray and reflect on these ancient, powerful words.
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.
St. Patrick’s prayer starts with the central mystery of the Christian faith: the Holy Trinity. The Christian God is one in three, three in one. The eternal Father begets the Son, and together they breathe forth the Holy Spirit. Eternal and infinite, the love of Father, Son, and Spirit pours forth upon the world. The diffused goodness of God, a goodness so great that it cannot be contained, spills out upon all creation, making and forming the world in love.
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.
St. Patrick’s prayer starts with the central mystery of the Christian faith: the Holy Trinity. The Christian God is one in three, three in one. The eternal Father begets the Son, and together they breathe forth the Holy Spirit. Eternal and infinite, the love of Father, Son, and Spirit pours forth upon the world. The diffused goodness of God, a goodness so great that it cannot be contained, spills out upon all creation, making and forming the world in love.
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