St. Patrick's Famous Breastplate Prayer

Saint Patrick is one of the most famous and beloved saints of the Catholic Church.  This 5th century missionary bishop was so effective in his ministry that his legacy of evangelization continues today, 1500 years later.

His zeal for Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls, and his effective leadership in the Church, made him the legendary patron saint of Ireland. His feast day is celebrated around the world on March 17th.

See also In His Own Words: Excerpts from the Confession of St. Patrick

This beautiful prayer of St. Patrick was his lorica, Latin for 'body armor'.  It is more popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate" which he composed in preparation for his spiritual battle, and ultimate victory, over paganism in Ireland. St. Patrick went into battle with the demons of the Druids with the body-armor of Christ, and won Ireland for the Catholic Church.

What a powerful prayer for all of us to recite for our own spiritual battles! The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text:

See also A Better Way to Celebrate St. 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

The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,

The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,

The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,

The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today

The virtue of the love of seraphim,

In the obedience of angels,

In the hope of resurrection unto reward,

In prayers of Patriarchs,

In predictions of Prophets,

In preaching of Apostles,

In faith of Confessors,

In purity of holy Virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today

The power of Heaven,

The light of the sun,

The brightness of the moon,

The splendour of fire,

The flashing of lightning,

The swiftness of wind,

The depth of sea,

The stability of earth,

The compactness of rocks.

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,

Against the snares of demons,

Against the seductions of vices,

Against the lusts of nature,

Against everyone who meditates injury to me,

Whether far or near,

Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues

Against every hostile merciless power

Which may assail my body and my soul,

Against the incantations of false prophets,

Against the black laws of heathenism,

Against the false laws of heresy,

Against the deceits of idolatry,

Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,

Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today

Against every poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against death-wound,

That I may receive abundant reward.

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 fort,

Christ in the chariot seat,

Christ in the poop [deck],

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.

I bind to myself today

The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,

I believe the Trinity in the Unity

The Creator of the Universe.

Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia

This article as been updated and was originally published in March 2012. © The Catholic Company. All rights reserved.