the Breastplate of St. Patrick

I rise today
with a mighty power, calling on the Trinity
with a belief in the threeness,
with a faith in the oneness
of the creator of creation

I rise today
with the power of Christ's birth and baptism,
with the power of his crucifixion and burial,
with the power of his resurrection and ascension,
with the power of his return for the final judgment.

I rise today
with the power of the love of the cherubim,
in obedience of angels,
in service of archangels,
in hope of the resurrection and reward,
in the prayers of the patriarchs,
in the foretelling of the prophets,
in the preaching of the apostles,
in the faith of the confessors,
in the innocence of the holy virgins,
in the deeds of righteous men.

I rise today
with the strength of the sky,
with the light of the sun,
with the splendor of the moon,
with the brilliance of fire,
with the blaze of lightning,
with the swiftness of wind,
with the depth of the ocean,
with the firmness of earth,
with the strength of rock.

I rise today
with the power of God to guide me,
with the strength of God to raise me,
with the wisdom of God to lead me,
with the vision of God to see for me,
with the ears of God to hear for me,
with the words of God to speak for me,
with the hand of God to protect me,
with the path of God before me,
with the shield of God to guard me,
with the friendship of God to keep me safe from
the contriving of demons, the temptations of sin,
the inclinations of my nature, and everyone who wishes me harm...

Christ protect me today...
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ below me, Christ above me,
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye which sees me,
Christ in every ear which hears me.

I rise today
with a might power, calling on the Trinity,
with a belief in the threeness,
with a faith in the oneness
of the creator of creation.

[This translation of Faeth fiada is taken from Philip Freeman's excellent biography of St. Patrick. It is a beautiful read; you would enjoy every minute of it.]

St. Patrick of Ireland, by Philip Freeman