Get E-Mail Updates

St. Patrick's Prayer for the Faithful

Today is St. Patrick's day, a day that many of us only know as a day to eat corned beef and cabbage and exchange cards emblazoned with green shamrocks, both of which probably have absolutely nothing to do with the real Patrick who helped establish Christianity in Ireland in the third century.

Many of us are familiar too with Patrick's Breastplate, the best known of the prayers attributed to Patrick. I wrote about that beautiful prayer last year so I thought I would share another of his prayers this year.

Prayer for the Faithful

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.

If you would like to read more beautiful Celtic prayers check out the Carmina Gadelica.

portrait-christine-sineChristine Sine is executive director of Mustard Seed Associates and author of several books including GodSpace: Time for Peace in the Rhythms of Life. She describes herself as a contemplative activist encouraging a way of life that interweaves spiritual practices with concern for justice and environmentalism. She blogs at GodSpace.

Sojourners relies on the support of readers like you to sustain our message and ministry.

by: Patricia

03-17-2010 @ 4:26pm

A-o'men :).

by: histrogeek

03-17-2010 @ 4:19pm

I love the Breastplate. It's such a lovely poem and prayer.

by: Police Car Auctions

06-26-2011 @ 1:29pm

Car Auctions...

Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks...

by: ckgmailOTscholar

03-18-2010 @ 2:17pm

What a beautiful prayer.

by: VineyD

03-18-2010 @ 1:01am

"It is the women slaves who suffer the most. All the time they have to endure terrors and threatenings. But the Lord gives grace to His many hand-maidens; for, though they are forbidden to do so, they follow Him with backbone." ---one of my favorite quotes from the Confessions of St. Patrick

by: self-tan

07-18-2011 @ 7:03pm

I just linked to your site...

Im naive to blogging and just learnt about trackbacks, which I imagine is a way for me to acknowledge your website through a linkback through my blog. I found your web site in the "currently buzzing" part of one of the bookmarking sites that I was p...

by: job openings in wilmington nc

06-30-2011 @ 3:57am

Please Click Approve...

I Have gone ahead and bookmarked your site at Digg site so people can enjoy it too. Please approve this if this is ok with you....

medical assistant salaries are very modest...

respectable jobs are available in the medical field...

by: Gynexin

06-20-2011 @ 3:39pm

For Your Information...

Im new to blogs and just heard about trackbacks, which I venture is a way for me to acknowledge your web site through a linkback through my blog. I discovered your website in the "currently buzzing" part of one of the bookmarking sites that I was po...

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

03-17-2010 @ 9:44pm

Thanks for your blog entry and the posting of the prayer. When I post comments about this day on a comic strip & cartoon forum, I also add that having parades and getting drunk don't have anything to do with Patrick either, others try to claim that I am clueless.

People who are of Irish descent ought to celebrate today as a day honoring the person who brought the Salvation message to Ireland and honoring the Father for bringing Salvation through Belief in Jesus.

by: Patricia

03-17-2010 @ 4:26pm

A-o'men :).

by: histrogeek

03-17-2010 @ 4:19pm

I love the Breastplate. It's such a lovely poem and prayer.

by: ckgmailOTscholar

03-18-2010 @ 2:17pm

What a beautiful prayer.

by: VineyD

03-18-2010 @ 1:01am

"It is the women slaves who suffer the most. All the time they have to endure terrors and threatenings. But the Lord gives grace to His many hand-maidens; for, though they are forbidden to do so, they follow Him with backbone." ---one of my favorite quotes from the Confessions of St. Patrick

by: Step

07-31-2011 @ 4:11pm

Chose...

[

by: Gas

08-04-2011 @ 7:24pm

Sunglasses...

[

by: My Blog Title

05-28-2011 @ 1:15am

Title...

CMA salaries are as great as other medical jobs.....

by: Tim

08-14-2011 @ 8:12pm

Spent...

[

by: juke car

07-19-2011 @ 3:41am

nissan crossover...

Awesome post, I've linked back to your blog here http://www.vwsuv.net/sites-we-like/ return the favor if you can, thanks!...

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

03-17-2010 @ 9:44pm

Thanks for your blog entry and the posting of the prayer. When I post comments about this day on a comic strip & cartoon forum, I also add that having parades and getting drunk don't have anything to do with Patrick either, others try to claim that I am clueless.

People who are of Irish descent ought to celebrate today as a day honoring the person who brought the Salvation message to Ireland and honoring the Father for bringing Salvation through Belief in Jesus.

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: histrogeek

03-17-2010 @ 4:19pm

I love the Breastplate. It's such a lovely poem and prayer.

by: histrogeek

03-17-2010 @ 4:19pm

I love the Breastplate. It's such a lovely poem and prayer.

by: Patricia

03-17-2010 @ 4:26pm

A-o'men :).

by: Patricia

03-17-2010 @ 4:26pm

A-o'men :).

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

03-17-2010 @ 9:44pm

Thanks for your blog entry and the posting of the prayer. When I post comments about this day on a comic strip & cartoon forum, I also add that having parades and getting drunk don't have anything to do with Patrick either, others try to claim that I am clueless.

People who are of Irish descent ought to celebrate today as a day honoring the person who brought the Salvation message to Ireland and honoring the Father for bringing Salvation through Belief in Jesus.

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

03-17-2010 @ 9:44pm

Thanks for your blog entry and the posting of the prayer. When I post comments about this day on a comic strip & cartoon forum, I also add that having parades and getting drunk don't have anything to do with Patrick either, others try to claim that I am clueless.

People who are of Irish descent ought to celebrate today as a day honoring the person who brought the Salvation message to Ireland and honoring the Father for bringing Salvation through Belief in Jesus.

by: VineyD

03-18-2010 @ 1:01am

"It is the women slaves who suffer the most. All the time they have to endure terrors and threatenings. But the Lord gives grace to His many hand-maidens; for, though they are forbidden to do so, they follow Him with backbone." ---one of my favorite quotes from the Confessions of St. Patrick

by: VineyD

03-18-2010 @ 1:01am

"It is the women slaves who suffer the most. All the time they have to endure terrors and threatenings. But the Lord gives grace to His many hand-maidens; for, though they are forbidden to do so, they follow Him with backbone." ---one of my favorite quotes from the Confessions of St. Patrick

by: ckgmailOTscholar

03-18-2010 @ 2:17pm

What a beautiful prayer.

by: ckgmailOTscholar

03-18-2010 @ 2:17pm

What a beautiful prayer.

by: My Blog Title

05-28-2011 @ 1:15am

Title...

CMA salaries are as great as other medical jobs.....

medical assistant salaries are very modest...

respectable jobs are available in the medical field...

by: Gynexin

06-20-2011 @ 3:39pm

For Your Information...

Im new to blogs and just heard about trackbacks, which I venture is a way for me to acknowledge your web site through a linkback through my blog. I discovered your website in the "currently buzzing" part of one of the bookmarking sites that I was po...

by: Police Car Auctions

06-26-2011 @ 1:29pm

Car Auctions...

Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks...

by: job openings in wilmington nc

06-30-2011 @ 3:57am

Please Click Approve...

I Have gone ahead and bookmarked your site at Digg site so people can enjoy it too. Please approve this if this is ok with you....

by: self-tan

07-18-2011 @ 7:03pm

I just linked to your site...

Im naive to blogging and just learnt about trackbacks, which I imagine is a way for me to acknowledge your website through a linkback through my blog. I found your web site in the "currently buzzing" part of one of the bookmarking sites that I was p...

by: juke car

07-19-2011 @ 3:41am

nissan crossover...

Awesome post, I've linked back to your blog here http://www.vwsuv.net/sites-we-like/ return the favor if you can, thanks!...

by: Step

07-31-2011 @ 4:11pm

Chose...

[

by: Gas

08-04-2011 @ 7:24pm

Sunglasses...

[

by: Tim

08-14-2011 @ 8:12pm

Spent...

[