It’s St. Patrick’s Day today and I had insomnia on Friday at 3 a.m. as I was putting together post seeds so you’re getting a two-fer. I actually did my senior seminar paper on Celtic Christianity so I could give you a MASSIVE post. However, I think that just a few lines of analysis will suffice. \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n
This prayer is known as a lorica<\/em>, a prayer recited for one’s protection. I’ve also read accounts calling it a caim<\/em> which is an encircling prayer that surrounds you like a prayer shawl or armor. If you want a biblical basis, go read Ephesians 6:10-20<\/a> which is the passage described as “the armor of God”.<\/p>\n There is also a folk legend that has St. Patrick reciting this as he was going to fight a nasty wizard. Some accounts have him turning into a deer so that the wizard’s henchmen couldn’t kill him enroute so it is also known as “The Deer’s Cry”. The Irish word for “deer” is similar to the Irish word for “God” which is another explanation that I’ve seen for that name.<\/p>\n Now let this enfold you:<\/p>\n I arise today I arise today I arise today I arise today I arise today I summon today all these powers between me and those evils, Christ to shield me today Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, I arise today It’s St. Patrick’s Day today and I had insomnia on Friday at 3 a.m. as I was putting together post seeds so you’re getting a two-fer. I actually did my senior seminar paper on Celtic Christianity so I could give … Continue reading
\nThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
\nThrough the belief in the threeness,
\nThrough confession of the oneness
\nOf the Creator of Creation.<\/p>\n
\nThrough the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
\nThrough the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
\nThrough the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
\nThrough the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.<\/p>\n
\nThrough the strength of the love of Cherubim,
\nIn obedience of angels,
\nIn the service of archangels,
\nIn hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
\nIn prayers of patriarchs,
\nIn predictions of prophets,
\nIn preaching of apostles,
\nIn faith of confessors,
\nIn innocence of holy virgins,
\nIn deeds of righteous men.<\/p>\n
\nThrough the strength of heaven:
\nLight of sun,
\nRadiance of moon,
\nSplendor of fire,
\nSpeed of lightning,
\nSwiftness of wind,
\nDepth of sea,
\nStability of earth,
\nFirmness of rock.<\/p>\n
\nThrough God’s strength to pilot me:
\nGod’s might to uphold me,
\nGod’s wisdom to guide me,
\nGod’s eye to look before me,
\nGod’s ear to hear me,
\nGod’s word to speak for me,
\nGod’s hand to guard me,
\nGod’s way to lie before me,
\nGod’s shield to protect me,
\nGod’s host to save me
\nFrom snares of devils,
\nFrom temptations of vices,
\nFrom everyone who shall wish me ill,
\nAfar and anear,
\nAlone and in multitude.<\/p>\n
\nAgainst every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
\nAgainst incantations of false prophets,
\nAgainst black laws of pagandom
\nAgainst false laws of heretics,
\nAgainst craft of idolatry,
\nAgainst spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
\nAgainst every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.<\/p>\n
\nAgainst poison, against burning,
\nAgainst drowning, against wounding,
\nSo that there may come to me abundance of reward.<\/p>\n
\nChrist in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
\nChrist on my right, Christ on my left,
\nChrist when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
\nChrist in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
\nChrist in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
\nChrist in every eye that sees me,
\nChrist in every ear that hears me.<\/p>\n
\nThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
\nThrough belief in the threeness,
\nThrough confession of the oneness,
\nOf the Creator of Creation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"