5 ways to persevere in prayer
How St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer can change your life
Photo by Autumn Martin on Unsplash
The celebration of St. Patrick with shamrocks, green beer, corned beef and cabbage threatens to overshadow the incredible works of God the great saint performed during his life and the life-changing ability his prayers have today. He is credited with raising the dead and evangelizing countless individuals in the gospel. It may seem that what St. Patrick did in Ireland years before you were born has no bearing or impact in your life today. That belief is a lie from the pit of hell. In fact, the St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer can change your life and your faith if you will allow it.
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.
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the 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, of whom all nature hath creation; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.
I bind myself to God’s power to guide me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to teach me, God’s Eye to watch over me, God’s Ear to hear me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to shelter me, God’s host to secure me…against the snares of demons, against the seductions of vices, against the lusts of nature, against everyone who meditates injury to me, whether far or near, few or many. Amen.
What a prayer! Imagine, for a moment, if you not only prayed the words of this prayer but meditated on each line. Imagine the life changing power that could happen in your life if you took each line, each petition of the saint, seriously and considered how you could implement that in your life.
What if you allowed God to really hold and lead you today? What if you asked the eye of God to watch over you and you were reminded, he was watching you anyway? Perhaps your decisions, words, and thoughts would be drastically more in line with those desires of the Lord if you prayed this prayer each day and knew He was watching.
How would you change your thoughts toward others when you prayed that God speak through your mouth, that God’s way be the way before you and that you choose to take, and that Christ be all around you?
If you were to live as if Christ was before you and all around you then your actions toward your co-workers may be different. Instead of gossiping about a co-worker with others, you would pray for that co-worker and repent for the times you have gossiped about her. Instead of being resentful toward that person that hurt you then you would be forgiving and pray for them. Instead of allowing the attacks of the demons to cause you to walk in stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem then you would walk in righteousness, peace, and grace knowing the Lord is all around you.
Imagine the power of your faith when you ask St. Patrick to intercede for you and then pray his breastplate prayer each morning. Try it!
Recommended Stories
About the Author
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
