Almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee: Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.
The “Irish Creed” Authored by St. Patrick:
[blockquote]”There is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be, than God the Father unbegotten, without beginning, from whom is all beginning, the Lord of the universe, as we have been taught; and His son Jesus Christ, whom we declare to have always been with the Father, spiritually and ineffably begotten by the Father before the beginning of the world, before all beginning; and by Him are made all things visible and invisible. He was made man, and, having defeated death, was received into heaven by the Father; and He has given Him all power over all names in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess to Him that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe, an whose advent we expect soon to be, judge of the living and of the dead, who will render to every man according to his deeds; and He has poured forth upon us abundantly the Holy Spirit, the gift and pledge of immortality, who makes those who believe and obey sons of God and joint heirs with Christ; and Him do we confess and adore, one God in the Trinity of the Holy Name”
[i]–Confession of St. Patrick [A.D. 452][/i][/blockquote]
St Patrick’s love of the Trinity (Arianism was still fresh in the mind of the church — the council of Constantinople was held in 381, less than 100 years prior to Patrick’s “Confession”), made it possible for him to use the shamrock to demonstrate how God can be three persons yet one God.
PS
The entire text of St. Patrick’s Confession may be read online, for free, at
[url=http://www.cin.org/patrick.html]the Catholic Information Network[/url], with links to other prayers and works, and at [url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.toc.html]CCEL Online[/url].
It makes a good Lenten read, and it’s short!
Beannacht Dé Leat!
(God Bless you!)
Jim Elliott <><
Jim E. – I was touched by St. Patrick’s Confession. Thank you.
I am reminded of an evangelist preaching at a revival somewhere in Ireland (more years ago than I can remember) who was interrupted frequently by a man yelling out “..but tell us about the Shamrock…” Finally the preacher stopped and staring at the noisemaker said loudly and slowly; “..On Christ the solid Rock I stand – all others are Sham Rocks..”
So, this thread is going to deteriorate into bad Irish jokes?
Q: Why do the Irish carry shamrocks?
A. Because real rocks are too heavy.
oh, yeah, my favorite:
Q. What’s Irish and sits out in the rain?
A. Patty O’Furniture!
But before we go totally off the wall:
The Lorica of St. Patrick
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 decent for the Judgement of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim
In obedience to the Angels,
In the service of the Archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faiths 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 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.
A 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 heathenry,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches* 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 above 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 Thrones,
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.
(*particularly relevant in light of the thread on Wicca.)