St. Patrick’s Breastplate (I Arise Today)
Words and music by Elizabeth Busch Letourneau
From the ancient Irish prayer attributed to St. Patrick, adapted from Kuno Meyer's translation
I arise today through a mighty strength,
The invocation of the Trinity:
The Three in One, the One in Three,
The Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ,
His birth, His death, His resurrected life;
His rising to the throne above,
And His coming again in His Kingdom.
I arise today through the angels’ might,
In love and faith and sacrifice;
Through prayers of prophets and saints of old,
And in hope of the resurrection.
I arise today through the strength of heaven:
Through sun and moon in radiance given;
Through fire and lightning, wind and sea;
And through earth’s sure, firm foundation.
I call today on God’s mighty strength
To shield and guide, to uphold and save,
From devils’ snares and temptation’s ills
And from cruel and dark corruption.
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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of all who think of me, Christ in the mouth of all who speak 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:
The Three in One, the One in Three,
The Creator of creation.
© 2023 Elizabeth Busch Letourneau. CCLI Song #7241851
Words and music by Elizabeth Busch Letourneau
From the ancient Irish prayer attributed to St. Patrick, adapted from Kuno Meyer's translation
I arise today through a mighty strength,
The invocation of the Trinity:
The Three in One, the One in Three,
The Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ,
His birth, His death, His resurrected life;
His rising to the throne above,
And His coming again in His Kingdom.
I arise today through the angels’ might,
In love and faith and sacrifice;
Through prayers of prophets and saints of old,
And in hope of the resurrection.
I arise today through the strength of heaven:
Through sun and moon in radiance given;
Through fire and lightning, wind and sea;
And through earth’s sure, firm foundation.
I call today on God’s mighty strength
To shield and guide, to uphold and save,
From devils’ snares and temptation’s ills
And from cruel and dark corruption.
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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of all who think of me, Christ in the mouth of all who speak 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:
The Three in One, the One in Three,
The Creator of creation.
© 2023 Elizabeth Busch Letourneau. CCLI Song #7241851