Amid the secular celebrations of this great Saint, let us remember the conversion of Ireland by Patrick from paganism. You may often hear in hymn and poem the familiar verses of “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, etc.,” but if you read through the full Lorica (breastplate) of Saint Patrick you may be surprised that much, if not all, of the breastplate’s lines still apply today.
Is there cruel merciless power opposing body and soul? Are there black laws? False laws? Is there idolatry? Knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul? Indeed, so pray as he did:
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.