The Deer's Cry

St. Patrick's Breastplate, also known as the Lorica, or the Deer's Cry, is one of my favorite prayers.

A good article is found on this site: Saint Patrick's Breastplate

"Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius; Irish: Pádraig, Welsh: Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the “Apostle of Ireland“, he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigit of Kildare and Columba. Patrick was never formally canonised, having lived prior to the current laws of the Catholic Church in these matters. Nevertheless, he is venerated as a Saint in the Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is regarded as equal-to-the-apostles and Enlightener of Ireland. He is also regarded as a Saint within the framework of their respective doctrine by the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Churches. "

My favorite part of his story was the origin of how his prayer came to be known as The Deer's Cry:

"The prayer is part of the Liber Hymnorum, a collection of hymns found in two manuscripts kept in Dublin and published in 1903 in the Thesaurus Paleohibernicus. The document gives this account of how Saint Patrick used this prayer:

Saint Patrick sang this when an ambush was 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 (Saint Patrick and his monks) were wild deer with a fawn following them.

"The description concludes “fáeth fiada a hainm”, which the Thesaurus Paleohibernicus translates as “Its name is ‘Deer’s Cry’. However, the phrase ‘fáeth fiada‘ is used elsewhere in Irish mythology to mean a mist of concealment."

"If the description above is accurate then the prayer would date from the 5th century – the time of Saint Patrick. Although Christian in content, it shows pre-Christian influence in that it calls for Christ’s protection using a lorica (shield or breastplate). Because of this it is also known as the “Lorica of St. Patrick” or as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”. On the other hand, this may be a Scripture reference, specifically: Ephesians 6:10–17 (“God’s shield to protect me … from snares of devils”). This prayer outlines Saint Patrick’s spirituality and his keen awareness and perception of the battle between good and evil and thus the importance of praying for protection on a daily basis."

I remember an article in America Magazine by Jim McDermott, in which he said, "Remember that time when we were deer?"  That appealed to my imagination!

"The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text:"

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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, smiths, and wizards,
   Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
7. Christ, protect me today
   Against every poison, against burning,
   Against drowning, against death-wound,
   That I may receive abundant reward.
8. 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.
9. 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.