In America, people are well familiar with St. Patrick’s Day for all the Shamrock Shakes, green beer, and leprechauns, but how many know about St. Patrick’s Breastplate? It’s a Christian hymn attributed to St. Patrick’s ministry that is as relevant now it was when it was thought to be written, about the 4^th or 5^th century. See, the words are a powerful prayer of protection for a long journey. So whether you’re traveling by a ship or a Jeep, these words can be a great inspiration for a modern day prayer of your own.

The Life of St. Patrick

What we know of St. Patrick’s life comes from his own writing called Confesso. His story begins with his birth in Britain and his upbringing as the son of a deacon and local official. At the age of 16, he was captured by Irish raiders and forced into slavery. It was during his first six years of captivity in Ireland when he turned to God with his whole heart. Then Lord then gave him a dream about a ship that was ready to save him, so he fled his master and found passage back to Britain. After near starvation and one more bout of captivity, St. Patrick was reunited with his family. It was then that he received his second dream from God. In this one, the people of Ireland were begging him to return to them. 

He knew then that Lord was calling him on a mission. He was to return to Ireland with the message of Christ, but he felt ill-equipped and undereducated. He was reluctant even up to the very night before he left, but once on the field, he felt the power and anointing of God. Where God calls, He equips, and for forty years, St. Patrick preached, baptized, and led the Irish people to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, he is often credited with converting “all of Ireland” to Christianity. Later he built as many as 300 churches. At the end of his life, an angel told him that he would die at the site of the very first church he built in Saul, Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Tradition has it that St. Patrick wrote this prayer of protection when he was making his way across the dangerous terrain of pagan Ireland. In constant fear of martyrdom and ambush, he asked the Lord for protection. The hymn itself was originally written in old Irish and later translated into English in 1889. Known as “The Lorica of St. Patrick” (or St. Patrick’s Breastplate) portions of the prayer have been popularized over the years. 

"May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me…Christ with me" (From "St. Patrick's Breastplate") Share on X

Here is the entire hymn:

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.

Jeepers & Cruisers Need Protection Too

You can honor St. Patrick’s mission to Ireland with a little evangelism of your own. Attach these handy tags to a duck with “Jesus Loves You” on them. Then duck the nearest Jeeps or take them with you on a ship to faraway lands. This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s spread the name of Jesus and a reminder that God’s hand of protection is still available today for those who pray for it.

Much of the information found in this article is from Britannica and IrishCentral.