[614]
Old Irish Prayer
COMPOSED BY ST. PATRICK.
I BIND myself to-day to a strong virtue in the invocation of the Trinity.
I bind myself to-day to the virtue of Christ’s birth with his baptism, to the virtue of his crucifixion with his burial, to the virtue of his resurrection with his ascension, to the virtue of his coming to the judgment of Doom.
I bind myself to-day to the virtue of the choirs of Cherubim, in the obedience of angels, in the service of Archangels, in the hope of resurrection unto reward, in the prayers of patriarchs, in the predictions of prophets, in the preaching of apostles, in the faith of confessors, in the innocence of holy virgins, in the deeds of righteous men.
I bind myself to-day to the virtue of heaven, in the light of sun, in the brightness of snow, in the splendour of fire, in the speed of lightning, in the swiftness of wind, in the depth of sea, in the stability of earth, in the compactness of rock.
I bind myself to-day to God’s virtue 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 path to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to secure me, against snares of demons, against seductions of vices, against lusts of nature, against everyone who wishes ill to me, afar and anear, alone and in a multitude.
