Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Saint Patrick's Breastplate


We bind unto ourselves today the strong Name of the Trinity, by the invocation of the same, In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the Three in One, the One in Three.
We bind unto ourselves this day forever, by power of faith, Christ's incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan River; His death on cross for our salvation; His bursting from the spiced tomb; His riding up the heavenly way; His coming on the day of doom; We Bind unto ourselves today.
We bind unto ourselves the power of the great love of the Cherubim; the sweet "Well done" in judgement hour; the service of the Seraphim, Confessors' faith, Apostles' words, the Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls; all good deed done unto the Lord, and purity of simple souls.
We bind unto ourselves today the virtues of the starlit heaven, the glorious sun's life-giving ray, the whiteness of the moon at even, the flashing of the lightning free, the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, the stable earth, the deep salt sea, around the old eternal rocks.
We bind unto ourselves today the power of God to hold and lead, his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to our need. The wisdom of our God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward; the Word of God to give us speech, his heavenly host to be our guard. Against the demon snares of sin, the vice that gives temptation force, the natural lusts that war within, the hostile ones that mar our course; or few or many, far or nigh, in every place, and in all hours, against their fierce hostility, We bind to ourselves these holy powers.
Against all Satan's spells and wiles, against false words of heresy, against the knowledge that defiles, against the heart's idolatry, against the wizard's evil craft, against the death wound and the burning, the choking wave and poisoned shaft, protect us Christ till your returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all the love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
We bind unto ourselves the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity; by invocation of the same: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, The Three in One, and One in Three, of whom all nature has creation: Eternal Father, Spirit, Word, praise to the Lord of our salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen



Our Heavenly Father please let the wisdom and strength of this, Saint Patrick's prayer be the heart of all who wish to heal our country, especially those in authority and those seeking the offices of authority. - Amen.

Kyrie Eleison


Lord Have Mercy

And The Lord Said Unto Me.

The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

Te Deum



Very early in my life I fell in love with the wisdom of the ancient prayers. The most intricate theology and greatest spiritual instruction is held in the Church's prayers. Extemporaneous prayers of individuals is worthy, but the wisdom of the ancient prayers is so much more. 

The earliest extra-biblical prayer (that would be the oldest prayer held outside of Scripture in the Tradition of the Church) is a prayer, prayed at sunset - the which I pray everyday at sunset - and it has opened the evening prayers of the church for 2000 years - the prayer is older than parts of the New Testament and was inspired by the psalmists words: "Let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice."

There is no more peaceful place on earth than standing in your prayer corner as the outside light fades, lighting the prayer lamps and singing: 

"O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, Heavenly Holy Father: Blessed Jesus Christ! Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and see the light of evening, We praise God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (+) For it is right at all times to worship You with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of life. Therefore all the worlds glorify You!" 

The video is the Te Deum Te Deum (for 1600 years this prayer has been sung somewhere on this earth every single day.) - The singers are singing in Latin - here is the English Translation: 

We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. 
All the earth doth worship Thee and the Father everlasting. 
To Thee all Angels: to Thee the heavens and all the Powers therein.
 To Thee the Cherubim and Seraphim cry with unceasing voice: Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Hosts. The heavens and the earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory. 
Thee the glorious choir of the Apostles. 
Thee the admirable company of the Prophets. 
Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs praise. 
Thee the Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge.
 The Father of infinite Majesty. 
Thine adorable, true and only Son Also the Holy Ghost the Paraclete. 
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. 
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. 
Thou having taken upon Thee to deliver man didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. 
Thou having overcome the sting of death didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven. 
Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. 
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. 
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants: whom Thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood. 
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting. Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine inheritance. 
Govern them and lift them up forever. 
Day by day we bless Thee. 
And we praise Thy name forever: and world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day to keep us without sin. Have mercy on us, O Lord: have mercy on us. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us: as we have hoped in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I hoped: let me never be confounded.