Saint Patrick's Breastplate

I gird myself today with the

might of heaven:

The rays of the sun,

The beams of the moon,

The glory of fire,

The speed of wind,

The depth of sea,

The stability of earth,

The hardness of rock.

I gird myself today with the

power of God:

God’s strength to comfort 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 lead me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s angels to save me

From the snares of the Devil,

From temptations to sin,

From all who wish me ill,

Both far and near,

Alone and with others.


May Christ guard me today

From poison and fire,

From drowning and wounding,

So my mission may bear

Fruit in abundance.


Christ behind and before me,

Christ beneath and above me,

Christ with me and in me,

Christ around and about me,

Christ on my left and my right,

Christ when I rise in the morning,

Christ when I lie down at night,

Christ in each heart

that thinks of me,

Christ in each mouth

that speaks of me,

Christ in each eye that sees me,

Christ in each ear

that hears me.

I arise today

Through the power

of the Trinity,

Through faith in the threeness,

Through trust in the oneness,

Of the Maker of earth,

And the Maker of heaven.