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St. Patrick's Breastplate

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17. This is to commemorate St. Patrick's death on March 17 in A.D.461. Due to the many Irish descents in this country, St. Patrick's Day is a popular cultural celebration. However, Christian history draws our attention to the missionary behind the cultural celebration.

St. Patrick was actually born in Wales about AD385. His given name was Maewyn. Far from being a saint, Maewyn considered himself a pagan till he was 16. At this age he was captured by Irish marauders that raided his village and sold into slavery. His undeserved suffering drew him closer to God.

Maewyn escaped from slavery after six years. He overcame his initial hatred for his captors and decided to bring the Gospel of Salvation to the people who once enslaved him. He spent 12 years studying in Gaul in preparation for mission work. He still had to wait for 2 more years before he got appointed to serve in Ireland. His success was frequently met with opposition and persecution. Several times he had to escape for his life. However, his commitment enabled him to serve on the island for 30 years in spite of the many challenges and hardship he encountered.

Based upon St. Paul's teaching in Ephesians 6:14 on the full armor of God, St. Patrick composed a prayer popularly called St. Patrick's Breastplate. It is a long prayer. Here is an abbreviated version:

I bind unto myself today/The strong Name of the Trinity,/By invocation of the same/The Three in One and One in Three./I bind this today to me forever/By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;/His baptism in Jordan river,/His death on Cross of my salvation;/His bursting from the Virgin's tomb,/His riding up the heavenly way,/His coming at the day of doom/I bind unto myself today./Christ be with me, Christ within me,/Christ behind me, Christ before me,/Christ beside me, Christ to win me,/Christ to comfort and restore me,/Christ beneath me, Christ above me./Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,/Christ in hearts of all that love me,/Christ in mouth of friend and stranger./I bind unto myself the Name,/The strong Name of the Trinity,/By invocation of the same,/The Three in One and One in Three./By Whom all nature hath creation,/Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:/Praise to the Lord of my salvation,/Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

When you encounter suffering, when others inflict undeserved harm to you, does it make you a better person like St. Patrick? This is something to think about for St. Patrick's Day.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Ling