Wednesday, March 18, 2009

St. Patrick re-visited (my heart cries out in unison)

I quoted the Breastplate prayer of St. Patrick at some length yesterday, but am struck by it again this morning in the midst of some deep struggle with darkness. I've put in italics the parts that my heart is especially crying out. In the midst of struggling with feeling oh so bound by darkness, my heart is clinging to the idea of biding myself to Jesus.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.