St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Performed by Jean Watson

Christ in resting and in rising, Christ the Lord of all my life,
Christ to guide me and to shield me, Christ protecting me in strife

Happy belated St. Patrick’s Day everyone! In honor of St. Patrick, I would like to share a song that has been put to the words of a famous poem attributed to the patron saint of Ireland called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.”

According to tradition, Patrick prayed this as a prayer of protection before approaching the Irish King Leoghaire in an attempt to lead him to Christ. Although it seems that “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” was written by an anonymous author, it reflects the spirit I’m sure Patrick had as he brought Ireland into the Christian faith.

Patrick was actually from Britain, not from Ireland as many believe. Though his father was a deacon and his grandfather a priest, Patrick himself had no interest in religion. But that didn’t last long.

When he was a 16, Patrick was kidnapped by Druids, sold into slavery, and was forced to tend his master’s sheep for 6 years. In his memoir, The Confession, Patrick writes, “I prayed a hundred times in the day, and almost as many at night.” It was until he was at his weakest that Patrick found God.

Through his suffering, Patrick developed a deeper love for the Lord and relied on God’s strength to sustain and protect him. Eventually he escaped from slavery and returned home to Britain. It is said that he had a dream calling him back to Ireland as a missionary, an ambassador of Christ. After about 20 years of education and training, Patrick became a priest and went back to the land to which God had called him to go.

Being a missionary in 5th century Ireland was no easy feat. Ireland was largely a pagan land, and Patrick was despised and rejected by many Druids. He needed a lot of strength to endure the persecution and suffering he faced in Ireland, and that strength could only come from the protection he found in God.

As a breastplate is used for protection in battle, our greatest protection in the battles of this world is found in Jesus Christ. As “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” reads:

Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

By surrounding yourself with Christ, you will be able to withstand times of suffering. If Christ is at the center of your life it will be evident in all that you say and do, and those around you will notice that testimony.

Over the past few weeks of Lent, Pastor George has been teaching us about suffering as a Christian and why it can actually be a good thing. This Sunday we will be talking about our attitude when suffering. I think it’s cool that Pastor George just so happens to be preaching on this subject around the same time as St. Patrick’s Day.

As you reflect on the life of St. Patrick, be reminded of his attitude when he was suffering. His constant prayers to the Lord whilst suffering caused him to become closer to God and cultivate an intimate relationship with him. Because of that experience, Patrick had the strength to return to the land where he was once a slave to Druids, but now as a slave to God so that others may experience freedom in Jesus Christ.
May Christ be at the center of your life as he was in that of St. Patrick. And may he surround you as you persevere through the sufferings of this world.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Click here to listen to “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” as performed by Jean Watson.

BONUS: For further enjoyment and meditation, click here to listen to another arrangement of St. Patrick’s prayer.