Among St. Patrick’s most enduring gifts to the Church is his powerful prayer, known as his lorica—a Latin word meaning “body armor.” Today, we know this prayer as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate,” a profound testament to his unshakable trust in God’s protection.

St. Patrick composed this prayer as a preparation for spiritual battle, arming himself with the armor of Christ to confront the demons of the Druids and the darkness of paganism. Clad in the strength of God’s Word and fortified by this prayer, St. Patrick boldly proclaimed the Gospel, ultimately winning Ireland for the Catholic Church.
This prayer is a beautiful reminder of the spiritual battles we all face. Just as St. Patrick relied on Christ’s protection to overcome the forces of evil, we too can call upon this prayer to strengthen us in our own struggles. It is a powerful invocation of God’s presence, surrounding us with His light, guidance, and victory.
Below is a literal translation of this timeless prayer, taken from the original Old Irish text. Let these words become your own armor, a shield of faith in the midst of life’s challenges:
The Breastplate of St. Patrick
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
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 Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide 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,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
As we reflect on St. Patrick’s courage and his unwavering trust in God, may his example inspire us to face our spiritual battles with faith, hope, and the confidence that Christ has already won the ultimate victory.
Let us go forth, like St. Patrick, armed with prayer and ready to share the light of Christ with the world!
Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia