Lorica of St. Patrick

September 29, 2007 at 9:55 pm (Classic Prayers)

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.

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Psalm 50

December 14, 2006 at 10:05 pm (Biblical Prayers, Classic Prayers, Psalms (penitential))

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy:
According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight:
That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged.
For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sins did my mother conceive me.
For behold, thou hast loved truth:
The unclear and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made clear to me.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness:
The bones which thou hast broken shall rejoice.
Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and steady me with thy guiding Spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways:
And the impious shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
For hadst thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it to thee:
Thou delightest not in burnt offerings.
Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit:
A contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in thy good will unto Zion:
That the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,
With burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings:
Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

King David wrote this Psalm after his adultery with Bathsheba. To this day, it remains probably the most classic penitential prayer in the Christian tradition. In the Orthodox Church, it is prayed at nearly every service.

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The Lord’s Prayer

December 8, 2006 at 1:56 am (Biblical Prayers, Classic Prayers, Essential Prayers, Prayers of God)

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, +
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

It is fitting that the first prayer added to this site be the prayer Christ himself upheld as an example of the best way to pray. Church Tradition holds that it is spiritually beneficial to pray this prayer at least thrice per day.

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