I arise today,
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of the sun, radiance of the moon.
Splendor of fire, speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind, depth of sea,
Stability of earth and 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.
From the snares of devils, from temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and near, alone and in a multitude
+St. Patrick
..
St. Patrick's Breastplate
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort 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 and stranger.
Holy well in Ireland
Patrick is said to have worked as a herdsman while a slave.
St Patrick medals can be worn and are known as a sacramental.
Besides the efficacy which the sacramentals possess in common with other good works they have a special efficacy of their own. If their whole value proceeded from the opus operantis , all external good works could be called sacramentals.
The special virtue recognized by the Church and experienced by Christians in the sacramentals should consist in the official prayers whereby we implore God to pour forth special graces on those who make use of the sacramentals.
River Dance Bear
Postcard mailed in the United States in 1912
Origins as a Sun Cross
Scholars speculate that the Celtic Cross developed from the sun cross, solar cross, sun wheel, etc., a pre-Christian symbol found in northwest Europe and Scandanavia -- a cross inside a circle, or a four-spoked wheel. When Christianity came to Ireland and Scotland, Christians extended the bottom spoke of this familiar symbol to remind them of the cross on which their new Savior was crucified. A pre-Christian symbol, the solar cross or sun-cross is found in neolithic rock carvings in France, Scandanavia, etc. An early sunwheel cross can be found at St. Dogmael's Abbey, Deyfed, west Wales (Pennick, The Celtic Cross
St. Patrick’s Cross
The central figure on the east face of the cross may represent Christ crucified, but on many early crosses "Christ in Glory" is depicted. We cannot be sure which of these scenes the artist was depicting. The two figures on either side of Christ’s head are angels. The two flanking his body, if it is intended o represent crucifixion would either be Mary and John, the two thieves or possibly the soldiers. Detail has certainly been lost that would make the meaning of the images more certain. It is believed that many of these monuments may have been painted originally and the fact that the carving on this monument is very shallow bolsters the argument that color may have been an important part of the original decoration.The three figures below probably represent apostles. In the triangular areas under the arms of the cross are three birds on each side arranged in what Henry calls "trikitras". In the corresponding corners above the arms are knots that are frequently referred to as "triquetras" although she refers to them as "trifold knots". Triquetra was the common term for this symbol in the late 19th century but seems to have fallen out of use in the mid 20th century. Since this is the only Celtic knot that has a traditional name it is fortunate that in the past decade writers and artists have revived the use of the word triquetra. The broad interlace of four double stranded triquetras that occupy the center of the cross are noteworthy as it may be among the oldest interlace in Irish art. The west side of the slab is totally covered with an all over broad weaving as well. Once the Celtic artist learned to devise interlaced ornament it was a very short time before the complexity and refinement far exceeded the eastern prototypes that introduced the style. The Carndonagh cross may survive from the time of the Irish artists’ very beginning to use interlace, a brief period when the style was bold and simple.
Lorica of Saint Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the 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 hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes 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 women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation
+St. Patrick (ca. 377)