St. Patrick's Breastplate

St. Patrick's Breastplate, also called the Lorica or the Deer's Cry, is an ancient Irish prayer of protection traditionally attributed to St. Patrick, the fifth-century apostle of Ireland. A "lorica" was a breastplate, and the prayer wraps the one who prays it in the armor of the Holy Trinity, the mysteries of Christ, and the powers of creation against every danger of body and soul.

The verse below comes from the well-known metrical version by Cecil Frances Alexander (1889), "I Bind unto Myself Today." It is a beautiful morning prayer, a prayer before travel or a difficult task, and a natural choice for St. Patrick's Day on March 17. Many people memorize the "Christ be with me" lines and pray them daily.

The Prayer

I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One, and One in Three. 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. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One, and One in Three, Of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Sources: St. Patrick's Breastplate (Lorica), metrical version by Cecil Frances Alexander (1889), excerpts, public domain.

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