Saint Patrick’s Breastplate
I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to see before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to be before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to secure me–against the snares of devils, against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature, against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near, alone and in a crowd. Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye who sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of the Christ. May your salvation , O Lord, be ever with us. Amen.
Long Version
I armor myself today with the power of the Trinity. I believe in the Trinity, in the Oneness of God, creator of the universe. I armor myself today with the grace of the Nativity, with the Baptism of Christ, his Crucifixion and Entombment, his Resurrection and Ascension, his glorious Second Coming upon the Judgment Day. I armor myself today with the grace of the seraphim, the submissiveness of angels, the attendance of archangels, The prospect of resurrection, and everlasting life. The Prayers of patriarchs, the predictions of prophets, the preaching of apostles, the faith of confessors, the purity of the Virgin, the deeds of righteous men. I armor myself today with the majesty of heaven, the splendor of the sun, the brightness of the moon, the radiance of fire, the flashing of lightning, the swiftness of the wind, the deepness of the ocean, the vastness of the earth, the solidity of rocks. I armor myself today with: God’s power to direct me, God’s might to sustain me, God’s wisdom to instruct me, God’s eye to watch over me, God’s ear to hearken me, God’s word to give me speach, God’s hand to direct me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s army to defend me, against the snares of demons, against the lure of vices, against the lusts of nature, against all who plot to harm me, be they far, or near at hand, be they few or be they 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 every art and spell that binds the soul of man and woman. Christ guard me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against fatal wounding, that just reward be mine. Christ be with me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, Christ be within me, Christ be beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ be beneath me, Christ be above me, Christ be at my right, Christ be at my left, Christ guard me in the home, Christ be my transport, by land and by sea, Christ be in quietude, Christ be where danger threatens, Christ be in the hearts of all who love me, Christ be in the mouth of friend and stranger, Christ be in every eye that sees me, Christ be in every ear that hears me. I armor myself today with the power of the Trinity. I believe in the Trinity, in the Oneness of God, creator of the universe. The Lord is salvation, The Lord is salvation, Christ is salvation, may your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.