Years ago a friend gave me a copy of St. Patrick's prayer (is he a Catholic saint only?) and it was great comfort to me. I have a laminated card with his picture and the prayer on back that I keep in my wallet, but I'm not sure what it means, if anything, for me to carry this ... I know it is comforting.
St. Patrick is an
Orthodox Saint with the same Feast Day on March 17. Clicking on the link will take you to a site with readings and appropriate dismissal hymns. I'm still not clear about specific prayers mentioned in the original post....
Thanks so much for the link to St. Patrick. I'm glad to know he is an Orthodox saint. I went to Ireland 2 years ago, and went to Croagh Patrick. I was only able to walk up a very short distance as it's very rocky and high (many people actually walk up the mountain in their bare feet).
The prayer I mentioned is often called St. Patrick's Breastplate (it's long, sorry). There are longer, more detailed versions of the prayer that invoke the Trinity, but this is what's on the back of the card I carry.
"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 see 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 and vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd...
Christ be 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 where I lie, Christ where I sit,
Christ where I arise. Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me. Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Christ.
May Your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us."
ddc
