Attributed to St. Patrick, Bishop of Ireland. Using the lyrical form of a Gaelic charm, but phrased in a distinctly Christian manner. Also known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
The faith of the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of the Cherubim,
In the obedience of the angels,
In the service of the archangels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In the prayers of the Patriarchs,
In the predictions of the Prophets,
In the preaching of the Apostles,
In the faith of the Confessors,
In the purity of the holy Virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the Sun,
The whiteness of the Moon,
The splendour of Fire,
The flashing of Lightning,
The swiftness of Wind,
The depth of Sea,
The stability of Earth,
The firmness of Rocks.
I bind to myself today
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to look before me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to be my speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and Druids,
Against every knowledge that blinds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against the death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the ship’s deck,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of Christ;
May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be with us forever. Amen.
