St. Patrick's Day Blessings

Today, on St. Patrick's Day, Nate and I have much to be thankful for. Through the kindness of some family members and some anonymous, but generous, individuals, we've been very blessed in the last 24 hours.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

And now, in honor of the day, I'll share with you a prayer attributed to St. Patrick, which a dear friend shared with me this morning. It's a beautiful prayer, and I offer it here in a much abbreviated form:

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer
"The Lorica"

I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river, His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom, I bind unto myself today...

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken 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 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...

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.


Image courtesy of examiner.com