聖徒Patrick的著名禱告

每年3月17日，你會看到很多人穿戴綠色服裝，紀念聖徒Patrick。他有一個著名的尋求基督保護的禱告：Christ Be With Me (St Patrick's Breastplate Prayer)，我從油管上找到。

傳說當地的一位酋長因為Patrick傳播耶穌福音而想要殺死他。當Patrick沿著一條偏僻的林間小路走時，酋長手下去的人靠近他時，Patrick卻在神的保護下繞著自己轉了一圈。追捕者驚訝發現派崔克不知怎麼就消失了，他們只看見一隻鹿跳過去。傳說這段祈禱(「Lorica」或「胸甲」)就是從那次冒險中誕生的。

Christ shield me today against wounding.

Christ be 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 in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation.

有人說了，美國基督徒現在需要這種敢於冒險、遇到困難堅軔不拔的精神，來面對當前的局勢。這禱告有很多不同的版本，未必都是聖Patrick本人寫的禱告詞：

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 hosts to save me Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude.