Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Today’s memo is a prayer that has been attributed to him, called The Lorica or The Deer’s Cry. This prayer has been translated and modified many times over the years, so several versions exist in English.
This one is my favorite; it’s a composite of a few different versions. I often recite the fifth section as I begin the new day: This day I call to me God’s strength to direct me…
THE DEER’S CRY
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of the sun,
Radiance of the moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
This day I call to me
God’s strength to direct to me,
God’s power to save me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to see me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s Word to speak for me,
God’s hand to uphold me,
God’s pathway before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s legions to save me
From snares of the demons,
From evil enticements,
From failings of nature,
From one man or many who shall wish me ill,
From near or afar.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
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 when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
This day I call to me
A might power, the Holy Trinity.
Confessing Threeness,
Affirming Oneness,
In the making of all through love.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May we learn from this prayer the power of praying God’s protection into our daily lives.
