St.Patrick was reported as one of the most successful missionaries who ever lived. Captured as a young man by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland he found God and found the focus of his life. There are many tales of who he was, what he did, and how he saved Ireland.. so I won't relay another history lesson here. Yet, the one thing that I find so poignant, so real, and so encouraging is his passion.
If you read through this poem/prayer below, you meet a man with a fervency and a passion that is extraordinary. He met God on the hills as a captive. Isn't that an amazing revelation? Aren't we all captives to something in our life and need a release in our circumstances?
He came to know the Father in intimacy. His relationship was not based on what others told him about God, but about what he came to know because of the time that was spent in communion with the Father.
How great is the love of the father that He has lavished upon us. He has moved mountains and forged valleys with the breath of his lips, and all to meet with us. I am so inspired when I read of those whose lives were lived to the extreme for Jesus. Will I be able to stand before him and say I did that myself?
My son and I were discussing the song by Matthew West called " The Motions". This song is a profound statement to live a life of purpose. To live a life of destiny and to be called and called out. If nothing else, I don't want to go through the motions of life and find that I missed Him. I don't want to find that even a fraction of my direction was altered because of a choice of me over Him. Yet, I do it every day.
I do it when I choose to follow my own feelings rather than pray. I do it when I choose to react rather than respond. I do it when I yield to my interpretation of "right" rather than fall to the feet of mercy and extend the hand of grace.
I love to look through history and see those men and women who pursued mercy, love and eternity with zeal. Our lives should be covered in prayer daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. St. Patrick's prayer reminds me of the fervent righteous man in James 5:16... whose prayer availed much. Prayer is the tool we can use to change the world for Him.
There are some wonderful tools to use in your homeschool ( if you are a homeschooler) that can support a study on this subject. You can use the prayer as copywork. ( The Charlotte Mason lover in me had to add that.)
Terri over a KnowledgeQuest has a great unit study on him.
Currclick has a great free product this week by Living Books Curriculum on St.Patrick
Prayer of St.Patrick
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth 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 descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance 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 shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils
,Against every cruel merciless power that may oppress my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against the craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me 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 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.
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.
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