The Lorica: How to Pray the Celtic Way

I bind unto myself this day,
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

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 the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.
 - From the Lorica of St. Patrick

What is it?
The lorica or breastplate prayer is unique to Celtic Christianity. More than a simple prayer, it is also a resounding statement of faith in the Trinity. The lorica envelopes or encompasses a believer in spiritual armor. "Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." [Eph. 6:11-17] The Celts took this Scripture seriously and saw themselves as soldiers of Christ in battle with evil. Theirs is a dynamic concept of Christianity, and it should be ours as well--a Christianity that matters. When they made their own loricas, they saw themselves as literally encircling themselves with prayer. Sometimes that even physically circled clockwise before they prayed to make visible that point.

Why would I pray this way?

Because I am aware of:

  • The active presence of a Triune God. The dogma of the Trinity ensures that God is actively involved in our daily life.
  • The need for protection against the real powers of evil. Evil exits and we can't stand alone against it.
  • The embracing love of the powers of heaven--saints, angels and the Blessed Virgin.
  • The power of Christ to walk by our side and carry us if need be.

How do I make my own Lorica?  

Easy as one, two three.

  1. Direct your prayer to the Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit. Start out by addressing the Lord in this way and finish the prayer this way. The very idea of God as Trinity-God who is love in action-draws us into the divine life of God so we actually experience God and not simply think about him.
  2. A Lorica deals with the world around us so work into the prayer your present, every day experience. So if you are in a rural environment-fields and flowers will play a big part; if you are an urban dweller-rock and steel. What matters is that you find God in whatever place you find yourself.
  3. This type of prayer contains petitions asking God to protect you and your loved ones from harm. The words should be concrete specific and brief. These petitions are not wish lists for the future; rather, they should deal with immediate needs.

f you look at the example at the top of this page you'll see a few verses of St. Patrick's Lorica or Breastplate. Though it dates from the eighth century, it echoes the prayer he used when he asked God to deliver him and his companions from the Druids who sought his death. God sent a mist to hide them and in the shape-shifting mist all the Druids saw was a deer leading some fawn-hence the other name of this prayer: The Deer's Cry.