All over the world on this day or the Sunday nearest to it you would normally, pandemic permitting, hear sung the hymn known as “St. Patrick’s breastplate” versified by Irish hymnwriter Cecil Francis Alexander in the 19th century. But her version is only one of many going back to fragments from the 9th century.
The word “breastplate” is a translation of the Latin “lorica” which was the word for the body armour worn by legionaries, which didn’t just cover the front of the body like a breastplate , but encompassed it. Legend tells us that St. Patrick allegedly, composed this hymn to protect him and his monks against deadly enemies that lay in wait for them. As such it is an all-encompassing corslet of faith for the protection of body and soul against the devil, earthly enemies and temptations.
It is also known as the Deer’s Cry’ from its title "Faeth Fiada" in the 11th-century Liber Hymnorum that first records the fuller version of the text. The legend here is that when Patrick first sang this en route to Tara to sow the faith, God, in response, concealed them from those lying in ambush to attack them, so that they saw Patrick and his disciples as wild deer with a fawn following them. I’m told that this is due to a particular etymology in Middle Irish, but that it is more likely a term for a "spell of concealment" which members of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann used to enshroud themselves, rendering their presence invisible to human eyesight. This hymn allegedly uses the structure of such ancient incantations. However, as someone who knows as much middle Irish as certain disparaging Unionist politicians, I will leave that to those who know better.
But I do offer this reworking of the traditional hymn/prayer as an added extra poem for Lent. The original version spoke into the realities, concerns and superstitions of its day, and used language that doesn’t resonate so well today. I have removed some of them and introduced others of my own. There are other phrases that Mrs. Alexander introduced into her version that are hard to shake off.
So this is my version for today drawn from all the previous ones, including the pagan antecedents… The text of it is below the video.
I arise today and buckle on
The strong armour of the Trinity,
through belief in community within the one,
through faith in the unity of the three
Creator of all creation.
I arise today and rely upon
the humility of Christ in His incarnation,
the cleansing of Christ in His baptism,
The word “breastplate” is a translation of the Latin “lorica” which was the word for the body armour worn by legionaries, which didn’t just cover the front of the body like a breastplate , but encompassed it. Legend tells us that St. Patrick allegedly, composed this hymn to protect him and his monks against deadly enemies that lay in wait for them. As such it is an all-encompassing corslet of faith for the protection of body and soul against the devil, earthly enemies and temptations.
It is also known as the Deer’s Cry’ from its title "Faeth Fiada" in the 11th-century Liber Hymnorum that first records the fuller version of the text. The legend here is that when Patrick first sang this en route to Tara to sow the faith, God, in response, concealed them from those lying in ambush to attack them, so that they saw Patrick and his disciples as wild deer with a fawn following them. I’m told that this is due to a particular etymology in Middle Irish, but that it is more likely a term for a "spell of concealment" which members of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann used to enshroud themselves, rendering their presence invisible to human eyesight. This hymn allegedly uses the structure of such ancient incantations. However, as someone who knows as much middle Irish as certain disparaging Unionist politicians, I will leave that to those who know better.
But I do offer this reworking of the traditional hymn/prayer as an added extra poem for Lent. The original version spoke into the realities, concerns and superstitions of its day, and used language that doesn’t resonate so well today. I have removed some of them and introduced others of my own. There are other phrases that Mrs. Alexander introduced into her version that are hard to shake off.
So this is my version for today drawn from all the previous ones, including the pagan antecedents… The text of it is below the video.
I arise today and buckle on
The strong armour of the Trinity,
through belief in community within the one,
through faith in the unity of the three
Creator of all creation.
I arise today and rely upon
the humility of Christ in His incarnation,
the cleansing of Christ in His baptism,
the wisdom of Christ in His life and teaching,
the forgiveness of Christ in His crucifixion,
the faithfulness of Christ in His death and burial,
the power of Christ in His resurrection
the glory of Christ in His ascension,
the promise of Christ in His return
descending to judge and rule and set things right.
I arise today and draw upon
I arise today and draw upon
The devotion of the Cherubim,
The sanctity of the Seraphim,
The service of the Archangels,
The obedience of all Angels,
The prayers of the Patriarchs,
The predictions of the Prophets,
The preaching of the Apostles,
The faith of the early church Fathers and Mothers,
The holiness of those who deny themselves,
The integrity of the righteous,
The good deeds of the just.
I arise today and revel in
the glory of the heavens and the earth:
Splendour of the starry sky,
The sanctity of the Seraphim,
The service of the Archangels,
The obedience of all Angels,
The prayers of the Patriarchs,
The predictions of the Prophets,
The preaching of the Apostles,
The faith of the early church Fathers and Mothers,
The holiness of those who deny themselves,
The integrity of the righteous,
The good deeds of the just.
I arise today and revel in
the glory of the heavens and the earth:
Splendour of the starry sky,
The milky beauty of the moon,
And the life-giving light of the sun;
The flashing swiftness of lightning,
and searing heat of fire;
The strength of wind and depth of sea,
The breadth of ocean and height of mountain,
The richness of soil and solidity of rock.
I arise to-day and trust in
God's strength to steer me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look out for me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God’s arm to reach me,
God's hand to touch me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's army to guard me,
against all the snares of the evil one,
against all temptations of vices,
against all ill inclinations of nature,
against everyone who might wish me ill,
afar and near,
alone and in a crowd,
with due cause or none.
I summon to my aid this day
The richness of soil and solidity of rock.
I arise to-day and trust in
God's strength to steer me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look out for me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God’s arm to reach me,
God's hand to touch me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's army to guard me,
against all the snares of the evil one,
against all temptations of vices,
against all ill inclinations of nature,
against everyone who might wish me ill,
afar and near,
alone and in a crowd,
with due cause or none.
I summon to my aid this day
all those powers between me and these evils,
against every cruel and merciless force
that stands against me, body and soul,
against the sweet words of false prophets,
against the devious plans plotted in secret,
against the knowing deceit of hypocrites,
against all temptation to idolatry,
against the wiles of women and men,
against the wielders of worldly power,
against all knowledge that oppresses body and soul,
Christ protect me today and every day
against every cruel and merciless force
that stands against me, body and soul,
against the sweet words of false prophets,
against the devious plans plotted in secret,
against the knowing deceit of hypocrites,
against all temptation to idolatry,
against the wiles of women and men,
against the wielders of worldly power,
against all knowledge that oppresses body and soul,
Christ protect me today and every day
against poison of body and mind and spirit;
against all manner of disaster and disease,
against pandemic, panic, and paralysis,
against pandemic, panic, and paralysis,
against creeping cancer,
dementia and depression;
against fire that burns and water that drowns
and all that wounds and crushes,
against the selfish pursuit of reward or regard.
Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left.
Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in depth,
Christ in calm, Christ in danger.
Christ in the mind 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,
Christ in every friend and stranger.
I arise today and buckle on
The strong armour of the Trinity,
through belief in community within the one,
through faith in the unity of the three
Creator of all creation.
against the selfish pursuit of reward or regard.
Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left.
Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in depth,
Christ in calm, Christ in danger.
Christ in the mind 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,
Christ in every friend and stranger.
I arise today and buckle on
The strong armour of the Trinity,
through belief in community within the one,
through faith in the unity of the three
Creator of all creation.
Our rescue comes from Christ the Lord
Shalom
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