(Photo: Saul Church, Downpatrick. From Tourism Northern Ireland)
On Saint Patrick’s Day we take a moment to reflect on a prayer of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is widely regarded with bringing Christianity to our island.
Though there is some evidence of Christian influence before him, he is considered one of the first missionaries to Ireland who led many people to Christ and helped establish the early church. The Breastplate of Saint Patrick is a prayer attributed to him, and is a call for protection, but includes an appeal to God that Christ would be evident in every aspect of our lives; our words, actions and thoughts.
Many centuries later, we can pray these words too, desiring just as Saint Patrick did, that Christ would be first and foremost in our lives.
“Críost liom, Críost romham,
Críost i mo dhiaidh, Críost istigh ionam,
Críost fúm, Críost os mo chionn,
Críost ar mo lámh dheis, Críost ar mo lámh chlé,
Críost i mo luí dom, Críost i mo sheasamh dom,
Críost i gcroí gach duine atá ag cuimhneamh orm,
Críost i mbéal gach duine a labhraíonn liom,
Críost i ngach súil a fhéachann orm,
Críost i ngach cluas a éisteann liom.”
“Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ below me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my waking,
Christ in the heart of all who think of me,
Christ in the mouth of all who speak to me,
Christ in every eye that looks at me,
Christ in every ear that listens to me.”
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Breastplate
St. Patrick’s Breastplate: the prayer of Ireland's patron saint, IrishCentral.com, https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/st-patricks-breastplate-prayer-irelands-patron-saint
The Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, https://www.saintpatrickcentre.com