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 hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
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 hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
________________________________
from St. Patrick’s Breast Plate
A while back, we were part of a church family that recited this portion of St. Patrick’s Breastplate together, in corporate prayer each and every week . Beginning then, and continuing on even now, this prayer became a sort of centering prayer for me. A mantra to pray and repeat in times of stress, fear, anxiety, and sadness. I have also found that it is particularly comforting and helpful when combined with a simple Sun Salutation.
The past year, for so many reasons, I have let my yoga practice fall by the wayside (I partially blame Alison Chino for moving around halfway around the world for this lapse. I think I was in a yoga-depression after her departure. She is my personal yoga hero afterall.)
But today I am grateful for this gentle reminder that much peace and relief can be found when I make space in my day to assume a prayerful posture through this practice, releasing all my cares into the open hands of Christ, stretch by stretch, breath by breath, word by word.
But today I am grateful for this gentle reminder that much peace and relief can be found when I make space in my day to assume a prayerful posture through this practice, releasing all my cares into the open hands of Christ, stretch by stretch, breath by breath, word by word.
Wishing you many blessings this day,
J
(Also an interesting read St. Patrick’s Confession.)
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