My breastplate

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the Judgment Day.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

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 look 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 lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ 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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

I've read pieces of this before, but the other day at a prayer meeting I read through the entire thing.

Looking back over time and reading things my brothers and sisters from the past have written while I hear "Amen" ringing in my soul, I realize it's the Spirit. It's the Spirit of Christ in us throughout time. Our soul's cry the same thing! St. Patrick's Breastplate is my breastplate is your breastplate... is anyone's who's life is in Christ and Him alone.

I arise today not cause I'm human and I breathe and I have two legs and I eat and work and make beds and drink and talk with others and sleep and do all the other things that humans "naturally" do. I arise today because of Christ and His kingdom.

Just stop and think about that for a moment. You and I who trust in Christ rise in the strength of our Creator, our Redeemer. We have angels and cheribum on our side. Prophets and patriarchs. Archangels and apostles. Confessors. Holy virgins. Righteous men. Even the sun and moon and all creation are for our good and strength since we are in Christ. Christ is our life and His kingdom is ours because of HIM!

"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or pricipalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." -Colossians 1:16-17 NKJV

Isaiah 51:3