I bind myself to the name,
the strong name of the Trinity;
by invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature has creation;
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

The above quote is part of the prayer/hymn, St. Patrick’s Breastplate. This prayer is traditionally ascribed to St. Patrick, but some historians believe it was written several centuries later. However, it does reflect the mind and heart of the “apostle to Ireland,” as it is expressed in documents that we are certain that he wrote.

I find the entire prayer to be passionate, even militant, when I recite it aloud. The prayer leads us to call out to God for protection and to clothe us in the whole armor of God as we face everything that the world, the flesh, and the devil may throw at us.

So, a little encouragement for today: Take a few minutes to pray the Breastplate before or during your Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage, and other parts of your celebration. You can find the full text (with different wording than the above quote) here. You may also want to learn about his life, in his own words, in his biography, the Confessio.

Copyright © 2025 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.