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| St. Patrick Window ~ Belmont Abbey |
"In conclusion be strong - not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless strength. Put on God's complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil's craftiness. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore, you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, integrity your breastplate, the gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God..." Ephesians 6: 10-16
Perhaps these verses of St. Paul, writing to the Ephesian Christians, inspired St. Patrick to compose his well-known, much-loved prayer of protection which has come to be known as the St. Patrick's Breastplate, The Lorica of St. Patrick, or The Cry of the Deer. Even if perhaps Patrick didn't pen the prayer (doesn't matter) someone who knew his thought did, and it has come down these many centuries to us. How blessed are we!
But I would suggest that prayer needs re-thinking. It is a new day, with new problems and soul dangers. Patrick's world was a superstitious Druid-world of magicians, witches, wizards, warlocks and monsters. Sorry to say, but often translators have to do a bit of a dance because women seem to get lumped in with the litany of spiritual trouble-makers. In my mind that needs to be remedied ASAP.
So, I've taken Patrick's lovely format and brought it up to date with some fresh words and concepts. I call out explicitly the dangers for us who live almost 1600 years later. Patrick's fifteen lines beginning with Christ with me, are perennial and remain untouched.
Some folks only like and allow for their prayers to sound old-fashioned. To each his own. But read this one too, and see if there isn't something that resonates with you, something that dear Patrick couldn't possibly have had in mind.
Some folks only like and allow for their prayers to sound old-fashioned. To each his own. But read this one too, and see if there isn't something that resonates with you, something that dear Patrick couldn't possibly have had in mind.
These are scary, dangerous days of menace and mayhem. Every age is really, but this is the one we have to live in and with. I hope the re-thinking of a venerable, ancient prayer steps up to the reality of our own troubled time.
All of that is a bit of a tease: I'll put the prayer up this Sunday coming.
