Mary TV Daily Reflection 3/17/2015

Pray for your shepherds because they are the strength of the Church!
(c)Mary TV 2013  

J.M.J

March 17, 2015

St. Patrick

Dear Family of Mary!

"Pray for your shepherds because they are the strength of the Church which My Son left to you. Through my Son, they are the shepherds of souls. Thank you." (March 2, 2015)

There are few shepherds of the Church who were stronger than St. Patrick. His faith held firm as he converted the pagans of Ireland, who had once been his captors. St. Patrick left behind a prayer that expresses his great strength as a shepherd. Today, on his feast we can pray this prayer, and receive a portion of that strength.

Patrick's Hymn

Patrick made this hymn. It was made in the time of Loegaire son of Niall. The cause of its composition, however, was to protect him and his monks against deadly enemies that lay in wait for the clerics. And this is a breast-plate of faith for the protection of body and soul against devils and men and vices. When anyone shall repeat it every day with diligent intentness on God, devils shall not dare to face him, it shall be a protection to him against every poison and envy, it shall be a defense to him against sudden death, it shall be a breast-plate to his soul after his death. Patrick sang this hymn when ambuscades were laid against his coming by Loegaire, that he might not go to Tara to sow the faith. And then it appeared before those lying in ambush that they (Patrick and his monks) were wild deer, with a fawn (Benen) following them. And its name is "Deer's Cry."

St. Patrick preaches to the Celtic High King of Ireland. Stained glass, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Macon, GA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lorica

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Towards the Creator.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ 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 obedience of Angels,

In the service of the Archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of Patriarchs,

In predictions of Prophets,

In preachings of Apostles,

In faith of Confessors,

In innocence of Holy Virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of Heaven

Light of Sun,

Brilliance of Moon,

Splendor of Fire,

Speed of Lightning,

Swiftness of Wind,

Depth 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 for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,

God's host to secure me -

Against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,

Against inclinations of nature,

Against everyone who shall wish me ill,

afar and anear,

Alone and in a crowd.

I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils) -

Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul.

Christ to protect me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ behind me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks 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,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Towards the Creator.

Salvation is of the Lord,

Salvation is of the Lord,

Salvation is of Christ.

May Thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

(The Works of St. Patrick, Ancient Christian Writers, Trans. Ludwig Bieler. 1953. P. 68-72)

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2015

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