The most recent chilly, windy mornings remind me of my first real exposure to inclement weather as a 10-year-old on a bicycle delivering newspapers early on a Sunday morning in Chicago. As an adult, I would not wish this job on someone I didn’t care for, but very much like many of our readers who has similar employment … unbeknownst to me, it helped to build resiliency and character. Also, the cooler weather reminds me of the upcoming Ides of March, the transition from winter into early springtime, and of course, March 17, the day of the year we honor the good deeds of Saint Patrick.
I probably heard the name Patrick as often as I heard the name of a favorite relative of ours that we were anticipating their next visit. My parents were born in Ireland and understandably Saint Patrick was a most important person throughout their lives. Ironically, for me it was not until I read Thomas Cahill’s best-selling book entitled: How the Irish Saved Civilization, that I came to appreciate the depth of character of Saint Patrick. Cahill’s historical writing about the Fall of the Roman Empire, and the overwhelming fear and belief that much of history, especially church history and innumerable biblical documents along with the early Bibles etc. would be destroyed, unless they were quickly and secretively shipped to the least likely place on earth to be invaded. The choice place was Ireland.
About this same time a young man, named Patrick was born into a very affluent family in England. As a youngster, Patrick was kidnapped and imprisoned in Ireland as a shepherd in a very primitive, scary and abusive environment. Through these many years of loneliness and turmoil which Patrick experienced, he was guided in becoming a wise and talented young man who went from being agnostic, to developing love for people and a deep authentic spirituality. As Patrick grew in knowledge and wisdom, he physically became strong and courageous and figuring out his escape back to England and returning to his family.
Patrick’s family felt hopeless for years with his kidnapping, but were very happy with his return, though surprised that he wanted it to return to Ireland, because it was in this place he found God and developed a deep relationship with his people, though they were very primitive and uneducated. Patrick immediately began his academics and excelled in his studies, was ordained and simultaneously appointed Bishop of this unknown country where he ministered for over 40 years.
As Patrick returned to Ireland, he was daily confronted with many obstacles. Daily Patrick wore a magnificent breast plate which protected him and engraved on it was a rather comprehensive summary of his theology and relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, this became known as the “Prayer of Saint Patrick” …The Irish Prayer:
I arise today,
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with 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 arise today
Through the strength of heaven,
Light of the sun,
Radiance of the moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depths of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength 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 to me,
God’s hand to guide me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me,
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who would wish me ill,
Afar and anear, Alone, and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupt man’s body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, Against burning,
Against drowning, Against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ to my right, Christ to my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man, who thinks of me,
Christ, in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today. With the Creator of Creation.
—To speak with Dr. Tim Lynch, PhD., you can call him at 615-504-4357, or email him at tdlynch@bellsouth.net If you want to know more about Dr. Tim check out Psychology Today Practice Directory, or his web: www.thelynchgroup.net
