The prayer known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is part of the Liber Hymnorum or The Book of Hymns, a collection of forty hymns in Latin and Irish. It’s also called Saint Patrick’s Lorica for its power to protect. Lorica, in Latin, means breastplate and refers to ancient armor worn to protect the chest.

Although it has been credited to Saint Patrick, the origin is uncertain. Legend says that Saint Patrick composed the prayer to seek God’s protection from the armies of a pagan king (Laoghaoire), who wanted to stop Patrick from spreading Christianity in Ireland. According to this story, Saint Patrick and his followers were transformed by God into deer so the pagan army would not find them.

Use this prayer for protection and victory in spiritual warfare, especially the highlighted (in bold) parts.

Saint 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 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 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 whiteness of snow,
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 power to sustain 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 path to go before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
from snares of devils,
from temptation of vices,
from allurements of nature,
from everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near,
alone or in a crowd.

I summon today
all these powers to stand between me
and every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of paganism,
against false laws of heretics,
against deceit 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 everyone 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.

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.

Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Christ is salvation.
May your salvation, O Lord, be with us always.

---

This prayer is included in the downloadable ebook How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare >>

Find more Prayers for Everyday life >>

For more faith-builders, visit the Good News Ministries home page >>

Also see Terry Modica’s books >>

Join a Victory Team as one of the 7 Warriors of the Cross! Good News Ministries needs the protection you can provide with your prayers. Find out how it works by clicking on this shield.