+ The Good Life

Partners in Prayer

Saint Patrick for any Day

Schoolchildren across the land have always dressed in protective green to save themselves from a pinch on St. Patrick's Day. On that day, innumerable restaurants and bars are decorated with green shamrocks, and cities celebrate with big St. Patrick's Day Parades. But I think of St. Patrick throughout the year and love to say his Breastplate Prayer. Its beauty, power, and hope fills my heart with peace any day!

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
The Three in One, the One in Three,

The creator of the Universe

I bind this day to me forever,  
by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;  
his baptism in the Jordan river;  
his death on the cross for my salvation;  
his bursting from the spiced tomb;  
his riding up the heavenly way;  
his coming at the day of doom:  
I bind Christ unto myself today. 

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 watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me 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.

Christ, protect me today 

That I may receive abundant reward.

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 when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
The Three in One, the One in Three
The Creator of the Universe.

 

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
The Three in One, the One in Three,

The creator of the Universe

I bind this day to me forever,  
by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;  
his baptism in the Jordan river;  
his death on the cross for my salvation;  
his bursting from the spiced tomb;  
his riding up the heavenly way;  
his coming at the day of doom:  
I bind Christ unto myself today. 

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 watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me 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.

Christ, protect me today 

That I may receive abundant reward.

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 when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
The Three in One, the One in Three
The Creator of the Universe.

 

Who Needs Prayer

Grace For This Day

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.
Not for a lifetime, or for next week, nor
for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them,
Direct my work and bless it.
Direct the things I say and give them blessing, too.
Direct and bless everything that I think and speak and do.
So that for this one day, just this one day,
I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence.

Postures of Prayer