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St. Pat­rick’s Lor­i­ca (Breastplate) for Divine Protection

Lorica of Saint Patrick
Lorica of Saint Patrick

Every poisonous reptile fled before his powerful blessing, and the devils back to hell. “For star differeth from star in glory.” — 1 Corinthians xv. 41.


Saint Patrick made this hymn; in the time of Loegaire macNeill it was made, and the cause of its composition was for the protection of himself and his monks against the deadly enemies that lay in ambush for the clerics. And it is a lorica of faith for the protection of body and soul against demons and men and vices : when any person shall recite it daily with pious meditation on God, demons shall not dare to face him, it shall be a protection to him against all poison and envy; it shall be a guard to him against sudden death, it shall be a lorica for his soul after his decease.  (PREFACE TO ST. PATRICK’S LORICA, Prof. Atkinson’s Translation).

 

Lorica of Saint Patrick

1). I arise to-day :

in vast might, invocation of the Trinity ;
belief in a Threeness ;
confession of Oneness ;
towards the Creator [A, meeting in the Creator S, of the Creator of Creation].

2). I arise to-day :

in the might of Christ’s Birth and His Baptism ;
in the might of His Crucifixion and Burial ;
in the might of His Resurrection and Ascension ;
in the might of His Descent to the Judgment of Doom.

3). I arise to-day :

in the might of the order of Cherubim [A, of grades of Cherubim ; S, of the love of Cherubim];
in obedience of Angels ;
in ministration of Archangels ;
in hope of resurrection for the sake of reward ;
in prayers of Patriarchs ;
in predictions of Prophets ;
in preachings of Apostles ;
in faiths of Confessors ;
in innocence of holy Virgins ;
in deeds of righteous men.

4). I arise to-day :

in the might of Heaven ;
brightness of Sun ;
whiteness of Snow [S, brilliance of Moon] ;
splendour of Fire ;
speed of Lightning [A, Light] ;
swiftness of Wind ;
depth of Sea ;
stability of Earth ;
firmness of Rock.

5). I arise to-day :

in the might of God – for my piloting ;
Power of God – for my upholding ;
Wisdom of God – for my guidance ;
Eye of God – for my foresight ;
Ear of God – for my hearing ;
Word of God – for my utterance ;
Hand of God – for my guardianship ;
Path of God – for my precedence [S, to lie before me] ;
Shield of God – for my protection ;
Host of God – for my salvation ;
against snares of demons ;
against allurements of vices ;
against solicitations of nature ;
against every person that wishes me ill far and near ;
one or many [A, alone and in a crowd],

6). I invoke therefore all these forces :

against [A, to intervene between me and]
every fierce merciless force that may come upon my body and my soul ;
against incantations of false prophets ;
against black laws of paganism ;
against false laws of heresy ;
against encompassment of idolatry [A, deceit of idolatry] ;
against spells of women and smiths and druids ;
against all knowledge that is forbidden, the human soul.

7). Christ for my guardianship to-day :

against poison,
against burning,
against drowning,
against wounding,
that there may come to me a multitude of rewards ;
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ under me,
Christ over me,
Christ to right of me,
Christ to left of me,
Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting, Christ in rising up,
Christ in the heart of every person, who may think of me !
Christ in the mouth of every one, who may speak to me !
Christ in every eye, which may look on me !
Christ in every ear, which may hear me !

I arise to-day :
in vast might, invocation of the Trinity ;
belief in a Threeness ;
confession of Oneness ;
meeting in the Creator ;

Domini est salus, Domini est salus, Christi est salus ; Salus tua, Domine, sit semper nobiscum.

Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of Christ, may your salvation, Lord, be always with us.

Psalter Prayers in Latin and English
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