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Enjoy this reading of St. Patrick Confession – with hilariously unique intro and read with an accent!
The only thing you really need to know about St. Patrick is that he was fond of all things green – wearing green robes (as you can see from the very accurate portrayal of him below), was fond of drinking green beer, giving out shamrocks, and dancing with leprechauns. He carried a staff and with it drove all the snakes out of Ireland (I heard from from a reliable source that he put ’em all in a wooden box and threw ’em in the river).
What can truly be known of the life of St. Patrick? Many legends and myths surround the man but thankfully there are two documents that scholars believe to have been written by Patrick himself. The Confessio and his Epistola. (Source material for these and much other historical evidence can be found HERE).
Here is the episode where I read St Patrick’s Epistola or his “Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus”!
St Patrick and His Breastplate
Sorry, but “St. Patrick’s” Breastplate does not seem to have been written by the man himself. A friend of mine really digs this writing, however, so maybe it’s worth checking out?
My favorite line of “Patrick’s” Breastplate prayer/hymn is:
“Christ in the poop”
Christ certainly does enter our poop to be with us when we insist on sitting in it, doesn’t he? The angels are ever changing our poopy diapers when we choose sin. I don’t know too many who aren’t actively playing in the poop. Maybe I need some more friends who actually know and love Jesus?
Okay, so he is actually referencing the poop deck on a ship… or so I would imagine.
Here is the entire poem (thanks Wikipedia):
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
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.
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.
So, whatdya tink o that? eh?
Could the Legends of St. Patrick be True?
There are a great deal of legends and stories about Patrick that are not verifiable. (How can you verify events of nearly 1600 years ago?) As one who seeks to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I still have more thorough research to do myself to ascertain what is true or not.
I certainly would like to believe that Patrick raised the dead among the Irish as some documents have claimed. The following article is from a friend and mentor and fellow blogger and pastor and simply just a beloved child of God just like you, Mel Wild: https://melwild.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/the-man-who-raises-dead-people-remembering-st-patrick/
Here’s a snippet from the above blog where St. Patrick himself personally attested to these miracles:
“And let those who will, laugh and scorn–I shall not be silent; nor shall I hide the signs and wonders which the Lord has shown me many years before they came to pass, as He knows everything even before the times of the world.”
“The Lord hath given to me, though humble, the power of working miracles among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked by the great Apostles; inasmuch as, in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried many years….”
– Quotes from his “Letters” (Confessions and Letter to Coroticus)
By the way, Mel Wild will likely and perhaps be future guest on this show in the near future?
(Of course I know raising the dead is possible because my very first Sozo Episode was to interview Robby Dawkins who had raised someone from the dead!)
Even St. Patrick himself in his Confession hints to a great many more stories that never made it into any lasting work by the man… so we think. Perhaps many of the legends were based on fact and actual events. Who knows?
Did Patrick teach the Trinity with a Shamrock? Maybe.
Trivia fact for the day: St. Patricks given name is Maywen Succot
I had a real fun time crafting the intro and hope you enjoy it, and learning more about this man we honor every March 17th for his courage and obedience and the impact he had on the nation of Ireland and the world!