There are many beautiful Irish blessings and prayers, but Saint Patrick’s Breastplate – or the “Lorica of St. Patrick” – is among the most enduring. Saint Patrick was said to have written it for protection on his missionary journeys, which is perhaps why its verse structure has been compared to Druid poetry. Cecil Frances Alexander translated the words into English in 1889 and set them to a traditional Irish melody. The prayer of protection includes these well-known verses along with many other memorable ones:
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me”
Ash Wednesday – which this year falls on March 5 – marks the start of the liturgical season of Lent. While it is not a holy day of obligation, it is a special day set aside for prayer, abstinence (refraining from eating meat), fasting (reducing your caloric intake) and repentance. But what do you know about this holy day, and how can observing it help you to live into a holier Lent.