St. Patrick's Day Thoughts

Patrick was a man, who believed he was called by God to save a nation! And apparently, he was right! Kidnapped in his teens and forced to Ireland in slavery, Patrick found God and followed a calling to convert a pagan world into a Christian land. Patrick's passion for Christ changed Christianity. In Ireland, before Patrick, to be a Christian meant to be a Roman, and the pagans wanted no such thing. Patrick found a way to share his faith that was effective and far-reaching! His obedience to the calling of the Holy Spirit to transform a nation through the power of Christ proved fruitful! Saving thousands and changing the face of Christianity forever.

The following is a Celtic poem that has been attributed to St. Patrick. A lorica is a protective enamel, a shield. It can be equated to a turtle shell. This poem was St. Patrick's protective shield of faith. Can you imagine having a faith like Patrick? Believing to your inner most being that you are special and you are called to change your world? You are, start believing it! And more importantly, start acting on it, and just, turn it over to God and see how He will use YOU to change the world!!!

The Lorica of St. 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

the rays of the sun,

the radiance of the moon,

the splendor of fire,

the speed of lightening,

the swiftness of the wind,

the depth of the sea,

the stability of the earth

the firmness of rock.

I arise today

through the power of God:

God's might to comfort 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 lead me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's Heavenly Host to save me

from the snares of the devil,

from temptations to sin,

from all who wish me ill,

from near and afar,

alone and with others.

May Christ shield me today

against poison and fire,

against drowning and wounding,

so that I may fulfill my mission

and bear fruit in abundance.

Christ behind and before me,

Christ behind and above me,

Christ with me and in me,

Christ around and about me,

Christ on my right and on my left,

Christ when I lie down at night,

Christ when I rise in the morning,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone that speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

- St Patrick