St Patrick's Breastplate, also called the Lorica, is a prayer of protection that wraps the one who prays it in the presence of Christ on every side. This is its best loved portion.
The Prayer
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 everyone 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 bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Amen.
When to Pray This Prayer
In the morning as armor for the day, in times of spiritual danger, and on March 17, the feast of St Patrick.
About This Prayer
Attributed to St Patrick, the fifth century apostle of Ireland, the Breastplate is an ancient hymn of trust in the protecting presence of Christ.
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Text: traditional English of St Patrick's Breastplate (the Lorica), public domain.