Prayers of Devotion to Saint Patrick
1. St. Patrick's Breastplate
I bind unto
myself today the power of God to hold and lead. His eye to watch, His
might to stay, His ear to harken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach, His
hand to guide, His shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, His
heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with
me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the 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 salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.
2. St. Patrick's Breastplate (longer form)
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 see 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 secure me -
against snares of devils,
against temptations and vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and
anear,
alone and in a crowd ...
Christ, be 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 where I lie,
Christ where I set,
Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me,
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
3. Devotional Prayer to Saint Patrick
Hail, glorious Saint Patrick!
We honor your name,
Tho' Erin may claim you, the world knows your fame.
The faith of our fathers is our
treasure too,
How holy the thought, that they learned it from you.
Thru crosses and trials its
fires burn bring,
They show us the way, and the truth, and the light.
Great Saint! Intercede, that we
always may be
Devoted and loyal, true children of thee.
Our love and devotion be ever
like Thine,
Our thought be of Jesus, our heart be His shrine.
And when to the end of life's
path we have trod,
Be near us great Bishop, anointed of God.