The Deer's Cry

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

Since it falls on a Sunday, liturgically speaking, the 5th Sunday of Lent takes precedence.  But whether you're Irish, or just Irish for a day, we remember St. Patrick today.

I have always liked the Prayer of St. Patrick, sometimes called the Lorica.  It may or may not have actually been composed by St. Patrick (most likely not) but is attributed to him. Another name given to it is The Deer's Cry.  I wondered why it would be called that, and it turns out that it is based on a story about St. Patrick The Lorica of St. Patrick (ancienttexts.org:

"It is said to have turned St. Patrick and his followers into deer when they were being pursued by the king’s men early one morning--hence the title "The Deer’s Cry." However, it is also called the Lorica of St. Patrick--a lorica being a type of prayer of protection (literally meaning "breastplate"), which was popular in Celtic countries. Since then, it has always been used not only as a morning prayer, but as a prayer of protection."

Here is the text of the prayer:

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 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 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.

I first became intrigued by the deer story a couple of years ago when I read an article on the America site by James McDermott: The crazy stories about St. Patrick that are actually true | America Magazine   The paragraph heading said "Remember that time when we were deer?". I thought to myself, "No I don't remember that time, but I would love to find out about it." There were lots of deer where I grew up, and I admired their effortless grace.  They would clear a fence with one bounce, and be on their way.  

The McDermott article mentioned a power called the féth fïada. 

"Despite not being either natively Irish or a pagan, in the magical equivalent of stealing your opponent’s rhyme and using it against them, St. Patrick drew on a power called “féth fïada” that transformed him and his companion into wild deer and successfully hid them from their antagonists."

That sounds too close to a spell or incantation, and perhaps God just made them appear as deer to their enemies. Or perhaps it didn't happen at all. But I like the thought.  

The parts of St. Patrick's Prayer that are more familiar to most of us are the parts that start "God's might to uphold me..." and the hymn "Christ Be Beside Me" sung to the tune of Bunessan. But I like to say the whole prayer sometimes, especially if I am facing something difficult, or that I perceive as difficult.

I don't like corned beef, but I promised my husband I would get him a corned beef sandwich at the HyVee deli.  And get us both a shamrock shake at McD's.  Anyway, the Luck of the Irish to ye!