Happy St. Patrick's Day

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, I share with you portions of his prayer, which is perhaps the most famous Celtic prayer.

Here's some additional info about St. Patrick and this powerful prayer: Tradition dates the context of St. Patrick’s prayer to the year 433. The occasion was when Patrick defied high king of Ireland Laeghaire. (La Gare uh) Once a year the King commanded that all fires be extinguished. The King would go to one of the highest spots in Ireland and light one big bonfire to his own glory. St. Patrick, a passionate follower of Jesus Christ took his life into his own hands and challenged the king by lighting a huge fire on the Hill of Tara to represent the brighter light of His Lord Jesus Christ, and according to tradition uttered a powerful prayer, which has been handed down to us as Patrick's Breastplate.
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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 way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of demons,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me 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.