Tradition says that St. Patrick composed a prayer for divine protection that is known today as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Some say he wrote it before coming back to Ireland to start his missionary work, and others claim he prayed this for help to convert the Irish King Leoghaire in 433 A.D. Today, I think it’s important to pray this powerful lorica for divine assistance against the many enemies of the Faith. The bold repeated invocation to “bind to the Name of the Trinity” is a true necessity.
I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three.
The hymn, St. Patrick’s Breastplate, is not the complete prayer. (The full prayer can be found here.) Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895) based her poem on the original in 1889.
Sheet Music
Audio
Text
1.
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
2.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
3.
I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet “Well done” in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.
4.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.
5.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
6.
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
