Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm not even the tiniest bit Irish, but I do love St. Patrick's Day, just for St. Patrick. What a great story!

This verse is part of the beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate", and is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this victory over Paganism. I've read about 20 different versions of it (and there are probably 10 times that many out there), but this version was on the card my mother sent me.


Christ be my light to illumine and guide me!
Christ be my shield to cover and guard me!
Christ be under me, Christ be over me, Christ beside me, left and right!
Christ before me, behind me, about me —
Christ this day within, without me!
Christ in every heart that thinks of me —
Christ in every mouth that speaks to me!
Christ in every ear that hears me!

I highly recommend the children's video, "Patrick -- Brave Shepherd of the Emerald Isle" -- we'll be watching it tomorrow, as well as "The Bells of St. Mary." We'll dine on Corned Beef and Cabbage instead of the Irish Stew I planned, along with our Soda Bread.