PATRICK'S PRAYER

This carving of Patrick adorns a

church entrance at Maynooth

.

PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

This is taken from a Prayer called 'The Lorca' attributed to Patrick

the original evangelizer of Ireland. Whoever actually

first made it, this is a powerful prayer for protection,

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to secure me:against snares of devils,

against temptations of vices,

against inclinations of nature,

against everyone who shall wish me ill,

afar and near, alone and in a crowd.

I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):

against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul,

against incantations of false prophets,

against black laws of heathenry,

against false laws of heretics,

against craft of idolatry,

against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul.

Christ to protect me today against poison,

against burning, against drowning,against wounding,

so that there may come abundance of reward.