The Prayers of St Patrick

It seems to me that there are at least two prayers of St Patrick. They both are derived from what is called Saint Patrick's Breastplate. I will show the two prayers I'm talking about. Then I will show you a translation from the original Gaelic language of Saint Patrick's Breastplate, along with a little history of the Breastplate.

The first of the Prayers of St Patrick

The second of the Prayers of St Patrick

Saint Patrick at Tara

It seems Patrick was on his way to Tara in County Meath to meet King Laeghaire to try to convert him and his chiefs to Christianity. The night before Patrick arrived in Tara, which happened to be the day before Easter, he and his companions stopped at Slane. Patrick's company built a fire on a hill to celebrate Easter. This fire was visible from Tara, a fire strictly forbidden by King Laeghaire.

The King was making ready for his own Pagan celebration. A fire in his kingdom was not to be started until his fire was visible from Tara Hill. Patrick and his companions were ordered to appear before the King for breaking this law. The King intended that Patrick not make it alive to his court. The King knew of Patrick and did not want to be converted. Patrick knew of the Kings intentions and began reciting his Breastplate, the most famous of the prayers of St Patrick.

Next is where you will see where the two prayers of St Patrick above came from.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

I bind myself today.
I place the virtue of the Birth of Christ with his Baptism,
the virtue of his Crucifixion with his Burial,
the virtue of his Resurrection with his Ascension,
the virtue of the coming to the Eternal Judgment.

I bind myself today.
I place the virtue of the love of the Seraphim;
the virtue which exists in the obedience of angels,
in the hope of the Resurrection to Eternal Reward,
in the prayers of the noble fathers,
in the predictions of the prophets,
in the preaching of the apostles,
in the faith of the confessors,
in the purity of the holy virgins,
in the deeds of just men.

I bind myself today.
I place the strength of heaven,
the light of the sun,
the whiteness of snow,
the force of fire,
the rapidity of lightning,
the swiftness of the wind,
the depth of the sea,
the stability of the earth,
the hardness of rocks,
between me and the power of Paganism and demons.

I bind myself today.
may the strength of GOD pilot me,
may the power of GOD preserve me,
may the wisdom of GOD instruct me,
may the eye of GOD view me,
may the ear of GOD hear me,
may the word of GOD render me eloquent,
may the hand of GOD protect me,
may the way of GOD direct me,
may the shield of GOD defend me,
may the host of GOD guard me against the snares of demons,
the temptations of vices,
the inclinations of the mind;
against every man who meditates evil to me,
far or near,
alone or in company.

I place all these powers between me and every evil unmerciful power directed against my soul and body as a protection
against the incantations of false prophets,
against the black laws of Gentileism,
against the false laws of heresy,
against the treachery of idolatry,
against the spells of women, smiths and Druids;
against every knowledge which blinds the soul of man.

May CHRIST today protect me
against poison,
against burning,
against drowning,
against wounding,
that I may receive abundant reward.

CHRIST be with me,
CHRIST before me,
CHRIST after me,
CHRIST in me,
CHRIST under me,
CHRIST over me,
CHRIST at my right,
CHRIST at my left,
CHRIST at this side,
CHRIST at that side,
CHRIST at my back.

CHRIST in the heart of each person whom I speak to,
CHRIST in the mouth of each person who speaks to me,
CHRIST in the eye that sees me,
CHRIST in the ear that hears me.

I bind myself today.
I invoke the mighty power of the Trinity.
I believe in the Trinity under the unity of GOD of the Elements.

Salvation is the LORD'S,
Salvation is the LORD'S,
Salvation is CHRIST'S.
May the Salvation O LORD, be always with us.

The third of the prayers of St Patrick is called Saint Patrick's Breastplate because he is asking GOD and CHRIST to protect him from evil like armor.

As it turned out Saint Patrick lived to old age. The King never did convert but he allowed Saint Patrick to preach to and convert his people.

The prayers of St Patrick today are recited for protection against any type of danger or threat.

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