St. Patrick's Breastplate — Christ Be with Me, Christ Within Me

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.

Amen.

About This Prayer

These lines are the best-loved part of an ancient Irish prayer called a lorica — a "breastplate," a prayer of protection to be put on like armor. Tradition attributes it to St. Patrick himself in the fifth century, said to have been prayed as he walked into danger; the earliest written text we have is centuries old, composed in Old Irish. The English verse above comes from Cecil Frances Alexander's beloved 1889 hymn translation, written for St. Patrick's Day. The prayer endures because of its complete confidence: wherever you look — ahead, behind, above, beneath, in friend or stranger — Christ is already there.

The Fuller Prayer: I Arise Today

The full Breastplate is much longer, and opens like this (from Kuno Meyer's literal translation of the Old Irish):

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today Through the strength of heaven: Light of sun, Radiance of moon, Splendour of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea, Stability of earth, Firmness of rock.

The prayer continues through Christ's whole life, and ends with the "Christ be with me" verses above.

In Plain Words

In your own words, this prayer says: Lord Jesus, surround me completely today. Be with me wherever I go and whoever I meet — in front of me, behind me, over me, under me — so that nothing can reach me that has not first passed through You.

A Verse to Hold On To

"Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." — Psalm 139:3 (KJV)