Saint Patrick (387-ca. 483), whose feast we celebrate on March 17, was a great missionary and a great warrior for Christ, facing down the world, the flesh, and the devil in Ireland through the power of prayer and trust in God.
Born into a Catholic home in Scotland, he nevertheless had not lived the faith, according to his own account in his Confessions. Patrick was kidnapped as a youth and taken to Ireland where he was enslaved by a druid. He converted to Christ in captivity and spent most of his time in prayer. Following God's prompting, Patrick made his escape after six years.
After gaining his freedom, he studied under St. Germain, was ordained a priest and eventually a bishop, and served as a missionary for some time before returning to Ireland because of a dream. He walked up and down the length and breadth of Ireland, converting kings, confronting druids, and founding monasteries. His legacy resonates down through the ages - if the Irish saved Western civilization, they did it because St. Patrick had first come to save their souls.
Because of one man's conversion and fidelity to Jesus, the seeds of Christianity were sown and cultivated in a pagan land. Because of one man's love for Christ and willingness to share him with the very people who had once enslaved him, the whole world has reaped the tremendous legacy of Irish missionaries, scattering across the world for the proclamation of the Gospel. Because of Patrick, many nations have been blessed.
Let us ask St. Patrick's intercession for the new evangelization, that the faith may be restored in the West and shine ever more brightly in our hearts and lives. Let us ask for his prayers, that the new paganism may be turned back and the Holy Spirit may come to transform all our lives and hearts.
St. Patrick, pray for us!
Lorica of Saint Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and 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 obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the 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 way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes 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 women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation. Amen.
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