St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer


Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Many will wear green, play with shamrocks, and eat and/or drink something Irish. All well and good.
What I find incredible about St. Patrick is his love for God and love for his enemies. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Irealand. While there his love of God and love for neighbor and enemies expanded. After six years in captivity, he escaped, returned to his home, and made plans to return to Ireland with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
St. Patrick is credited with several prayers, his Breastplate prayer is good in any season. I think it is particularly pertinent in a season of facing fears, dangers, and enemies. For me, it draws out the fear and gives me different eyes, to see an enemy as a beloved of God; my neighbor, my sister, my brother.
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"Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend or stranger."
(390-461 A.D.)
(Source: https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=550)