Christo-Pagan Prayer Book Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker St. Patrick's Lorica Celtic Protection Prayer Prayer-spell Against Powers of Darkness Be God with Me (Celtic) Be the eye of God betwixt me and each eye, The purpose of God betwixt me and each purpose, The hand of God betwixt me and each hand, The shield of God betwixt me and each shield, The desire of God betwixt me and each desire, The bridle of God betwixt me and each bridle, And no mouth can curse me. The Lord's Prayer (from the New Zealand Prayer Book Rev ed.: He Karakia Mihinare O Aotearoa) Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen Back to Top Christo-Celtic Spell-Prayer Against the Powers of Darkness attributed to St. Patrick On Terra (earth) in this fateful hour I place all Heaven with its power the sun with its brightness the snow with its whiteness the fire with all the strength it hath the lightning with its rapid wrath the winds with their swiftness along their path the sea with its deepness the rocks with their steepness the earth with it starkness all these I place With God's almighty help and grace between myself and the powers of darkness. Amen. A Celtic Prayer for Protection a Christo-Druid prayer (notice the title Krist of the Trees, clearly a druidic theme) Thou Michael of militance, Thou Michael of wounding, Shield me from the grudge of ill-wishers this night, Ill-wishers this night. Thou Brigit of the kine, Thou Brigit of the mantles, Shield me from the ban of the fairies of the knolls, The fairies of the knolls. Thou Mary of mildness Thou Mary of honor, Succour me and shield me With thy linen mantle, With thy linen mantle. Thou Krist of the trees, Thou Krist of the cross, Snatch me from the snares of the Spiteful ones of evil, The spiteful ones of evil. Thou Father of the waifs, Thou Father of the naked, Draw me to the shelter-house Of the Savior of the poor, The Savior of the poor. Back to Top St. Patrick's Lorica A Christian Warding Spell from Middle Ages Ireland (Also called the "Deer's Cry" or the Breastplate of St. Patrick) The Gaelic prayer-poem, “St. Patrick’s Lorica,” or breast­plate, later came to be known as the Breastplate of St. Patrick. It is a powerful Christian warding spell, not merely a "poem" or prayer.  A “lorica” was a magikal garment that was supposed to protect the wearer from danger and illness, and guarantee entry into heaven.  Scroll way down, or click here to read the original English translation.  And here to find why it's also called the Deer's Cry. Here follows a short adapted version of the Lorica, by Initiate Saules Meita For Invoking Mary Magdala: She who shows the Way Magdala as the shadow, Reflecting the totality of dark and light, guide me! Magdala as a shield, o'ershadow and cover me! Magdala be under me! Magdala be over me! Lady be beside me, On the left hand and right! Goddess, be before me, behind me, about me; This day, be thou within and without me! For Invoking Yeshua the Krist... LogosKrist as a light, Illumine and guide me! Krist as a shield, o'ershadow and cover me! Yeshua be under me! Yeshua be over me! Lord, be beside me, On the left hand and right! God be before me, behind me, about me; This day, be thou within and without me! Back to Top The lyrics of the church hymn are based on a translation of the Gaelic poem, “St. Patrick’s Lorica,” or breast­plate. Cecil F. (Fanny) Alexander penned the following words in 1889 at the re­quest of H. H. Dickinson, Dean of the Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle. He was surprised that it only took her one week. To hear the music that goes with this old hymn, go to: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/stpatric.htm I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this today to me forever 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. 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. I bind unto myself today The virtues of the star lit 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. 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. Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile men that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place and in all hours, Against their fierce hostility I bind to me these holy powers. Against all Satan’s spells and wiles, Against false words of heresy, Against the knowledge that defiles, Against the heart’s idolatry, Against the wizard’s evil craft, Against the death wound and the burning, The choking wave, the poisoned shaft, Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. By Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Encircling Prayer The Sacred Three my fortress be Encircling me. Come and be round My hearth and my home The Presence of God The Three who are over me, The Three who are below me, The Three who are above me here, The Three who are above me yonder; The Three who are in the earth The Three who are in the air The Three who are in the heavens, The Three who are in the great pouring Christ before me Christ within me Christ above me Christ below me Christ behind me Christ to the right of me Christ to the left of me Traveling Prayer The goodness of the sea be thine (mine) The goodness of the air be thine (mine) The goodness of the earth be thine (mine) The goodness of the heaven be thine (mine) Back to Top The Breastplate of St. Patrick (in its original form) I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism, through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension, through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom. I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels, in hope of resurrection to meet with reward, in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets, in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors, in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men. I arise today, through the strength of Heaven: light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire, speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock. 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 anear, 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 women [any witch] 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. Christ 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 in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height, 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. I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us. Here's why St. Patrick's Lorica is also called the Deer's Cry: St. Patrick composed this hymn in the time of Loegaire son of Niall. The cause of its composition, however, was to protect St. Patrick and his monks against deadly enemies that lay in wait for the clerics. This is a breast-plate of faith for the protection of body and soul against devils and men and vices. When anyone shall repeat it every day with diligent intentness on God, devils shall not dare to face him; it shall be a protection to him against every poison and envy; it shall be a defense to him against sudden death; it shall be a breast-plate to his soul after his death. St. Patrick sang this hymn when ambushes were laid against his coming by Loegaire, that he might not go to Tara to sow the Faith. Those who were lying in ambush saw wild deer (St. Patrick and the monks), with a fawn (St. Benen) following them carrying the books, and let them pass. St. Patrick arrived at Tara; his Easter fire was the first spring light, conquering darkness forever. (from the Celtic Missal at http://celticchristianity.org/stowe.html) Back to Christo-Pagan Info| Back to Top Send the sitekeeper a Christo-Pagan Prayer for this page.