On March 17th we celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick. Since I reside in the Church of St. Patrick and count both Flinn’s and Murphy’s in my lineage I always look forward to celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. While we may raise a glass to St. Patrick (hopefully not too many) we cannot forget that he is best known for raising his heart to the Trinity, and I am sure he would beseech us to do the same. We should offer a prayer tomorrow that the faith in Ireland will deepen, and that our own lives may emulate an undying dedication to evangelization like St. Patrick.
Below is portion of St. Patrick’s famous and beautiful prayer known as “St Patrick’s Breast-Plate.” A full version of the prayer can be found at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm along with a short biography. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me, God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me, God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me, God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me, God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me, God’s Host to secure me.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left.
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.