Monday Writing... 3/18/19... Be Thou My Vision

Good morning

I know I am a day late in writing about the Irish holiday we have just celebrated. The truth is that I was not scheduled to post on the actual date. So here I am "a day late and a shamrock short." 

The top of the "morning after" to you all.

Blessings

Corinne

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Monday Writing...3/18/19 

St. Patrick, as he is known, was born in Scotland. His parents were Roman. "Patricus" used the shamrock as a visual...as a metaphor for the Trinity when he was introducing Christianity into Ireland. Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius} [was a fifth-century Romano-Brittish Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. 

Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, and he is the person who brought Christianity to Ireland. Here is a prayer that is attributed to Pactricus. 

St. Patrick's Breastplate is a popular prayer attributed to one of Ireland’s most beloved patron saints. 

According to tradition, St. Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity. I heard this prayer on K Love this morning. 

(The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle.)

ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness, 

Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today 

Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, 

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, 

Through the strength of His resurrection with 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 the obedience of angels, 

In the service of archangels, 

In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, 

In the prayers of patriarchs, 

In the predictions of prophets, 

In the preaching of apostles, 

In the faith of confessors, 

In the innocence of holy virgins, 

In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today

Through The strength of heaven, 

The light of the sun, 

The radiance of the moon, 

The splendor of fire, 

The speed of lightning, 

The swiftness of wind, 

The depth of the sea, 

The stability of the earth, 

The 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 shield to protect me, 

God's host to save me From snares of devils, 

From temptation of vices, 

From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. 

I summon today 

All these powers between me and those evils, 

Against every cruel and merciless power 

  that may oppose 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 witches and smiths and wizards, 

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul; 

Christ to shield me today 

Against poison, against burning,

 Against drowning, against wounding, 

So that there may come to me an abundance of reward. 

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 every man 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. 

[Note ...people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.] 

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. 

I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, 

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, 

Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, 

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today 

When St. Paul referred to putting on the “Armor of God” in his letter to the Ephesians (6:11) to fight sin and evil inclinations, he could have been thinking of prayers just like this one! We may not wear combat gear in our daily lives, but St. Patrick's Breastplate can function as divine armor for protection against spiritual adversity.

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Be Thou My Vision

an Irish hymn

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Ireland is an ancient land filled with geography

and ruins originating from before the fifth century

when Patricious brought Christianity to Ireland.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers 

  and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

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