Hail, Glorious St. Patrick
Hail, glorious St. 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 bright,
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 yours.
Our love and devotion be
ever like yours,
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.
About St. Patrick
St. Patrick was born towards the close of the fourth century, in a village called Bonaven Taberniae, which seems to be the town of Kilpatrick on the mouth of the river Clyde in Scotland. In his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity by barbarians, who took him into Ireland, where he was forced to shepherd cattle in the mountains. After six months spent in slavery under the same master, St. Patrick was advised by God in a dream to return to his own country. Some years afterwards he was again made captive, but regained his freedom after only two months. When he was at home with his parents, God revealed to St. Patrick many visions that He destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland. After these visions, St. Patrick left his family and consecrated his soul to God. He promised to carry the Lord’s name to the ends of the earth.
St. Patrick set off for Ireland to preach the Gospel where the worship of idols was still generally practiced. He devoted himself entirely to the salvation of these pagans, traveling over the whole island baptizing an infinite number of people and instituting a monastic life. He took nothing from the many thousands who he baptized.
St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to preach the meaning of the Holy Trinity and its three persons in one doctrine. Legend also tells us that St. Patrick reportedly raised as many as 33 people. It is also told that he is responsible for driving all the snakes off Ireland into the sea. When St. Patrick passed, he was buried at Down in Ulster. His body was found there in a Church of his name in 1185.
Feast Day: March 17
Name Meaning: “The Noble One”
Patron Saint of: Ireland, Snakebites
St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer
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.
[Note that people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.]
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.
Amen.
What will St. Patrick protect you from?
St. Patrick will protect you from false prophets, heathens, heretics, witches and wizards.
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