St. Patrick's Breastplate
The Lorica of St. Patrick — "Christ with me, Christ before 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.
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 every man 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.
Amen.
About this prayer
Attributed to St. Patrick of Ireland in the 5th century, the Lorica ("breastplate") is a prayer of armor — a circle drawn around the day in the name of Christ. It has been prayed by Celtic Christians at the start of every morning for fifteen centuries.
When to pray it
First thing in the morning, as you put on the day. Before any work that frightens you.