PRO MILITIA

LORICA SANCTI PATRICII

The Breastplate of St. Patrick

The Lorica of St. Patrick (5th-8th century) is the supreme example of the 'lorica' or breastplate prayer tradition from Irish monasticism. Its famous 'Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me' section surrounds the Christian with Christ's protective presence. The term 'lorica' recalls Ephesians 6:14 and the spiritual armor of God. This prayer has been used for protection before battle and journeys for over a millennium.

LATINE
Ad Deum vadentem viam, Trinitatem deprecantem,
meritum Unitatis, Creatorem omnium rerum invoco.
Per virtutem Christi
Hodie surgo per virtutem fortitudinis Christi cum Baptismo eius,
per virtutem Crucifixionis cum Sepultura,
per virtutem Resurrectionis cum Ascensione,
per virtutem descensus ad Iudicium.
Per virtutem caelorum
Hodie surgo per virtutem caeli:
lumen Solis, splendorem Lunae, gloriam Ignis,
celeritatem Fulminis, velocitatem Venti,
profunditatem Maris, stabilitatem Terrae, firmitatem Petrae.
Christus mecum
Christum mecum, Christum ante me,
Christum post me, Christum in me,
Christum infra me, Christum supra me,
Christum a dextris meis, Christum a sinistris meis,
Christum in latitudine, Christum in longitudine, Christum in altitudine.
Christum in corde omnis hominis qui me cogitat,
Christum in ore omnis hominis qui me loquitur,
Christum in omni oculo qui me videt,
Christum in omni aure quae me audit.
Salvationem Domini deprecor. Salvatio sit Domini.
Salvatio sit Christi. Salvatio tua, Domine, sit semper nobiscum. Amen.
ENGLISH
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.
Through the Strength of Christ
I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial,
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
Through the Strength of Heaven
I arise today through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendor of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind,
depth of Sea, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
Christ With Me
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 in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height.
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man 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. Amen.
NOTA
FONS
S. Patricius (attrib.), Lorica, saec. V-VIII
USUS
Morning prayer, before spiritual battle, protection against evil
CONTEXT
The Lorica tradition of protective prayers comes from Irish monasticism. 'Lorica' means breastplate, recalling Ephesians 6:14 and the spiritual armor of God.