St. Patrick's Breastplate

From New Advent, the following is a literal translation from the old Irish text.

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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.

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Originally posted 3/17/2006.
Re-posted 3/17/2009.
Re-posted 3/17/2010.
Re-posted 3/17/2011.
Re-posted 3/17/2012.
Re-posted 3/17/2013.
Re-posted 3/17/2014.
Re-posted 3/17/2015.
Re-posted 3/17/2016.
Re-posted 3/17/2017.
Re-posted 3/17/2018.
Re-posted 3/17/2019.

Re-posted 3/17/2020.

Re-posted 3/17/2021.

Re-posted 3/17/2022.

In Memory Of...

Helen Marie (Sheely) Rolling

Born: March 1, 1939

Died: March 8, 2020

Requiescat In Pace.

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Originally posted 3/8/2021.

Re-posted 3/8/2022.

Change Of Venue

One of my two jobs is as a school zone crossing guard for a local police department. Since August, 2017 I have taken my post dutifully at a specific location. Yesterday, it all changed.

Due to a resignation, a different location became available two weeks ago. It was actually one I thought I would be working the start of the 2019-2020 school year, but the supervisor at that time changed her mind. Last week, I expressed my interest in transferring; that request was granted. Last Thursday, as was a custom I started (at Hallowe'en, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and the last day of the year), I passed out miniature candy bars to those students who used the crosswalk along with a note letting them know I would be leaving.

It was somewhat a tough decision. While the wage I receive is just, that location has some rewards I greatly enjoyed. It had great psychic pay.

It is a great spot to spot wildlife.  There is a ravine about 100 yards north which does its best to add color during the fall. It is also another crossing spot--for deer. (I have jokingly said I should get addition compensation for "helping" them.)  I have seen a coyote cross the road there. One or two red-tailed hawks patrol the skies above on occasion; I also might have seen a peregrine falcon perching on a light pole one time. Just to the west of of the street is an enclosed reservoir used for an area-wide irrigation system; it hosts Canadian geese and mallard ducks in the spring and makes for a great nesting ground at times. A pair of jays make their home there. I also have photos of two unusual but beautiful insects which investigated me.

And then there was a long distance encounter with a cougar in December, 2017 during my morning shift. It was sitting on the other side of the reservoir facing west; when it rose and gave me a side view, I will swear to this day it was a pregnant female. And just as stealthily as it came, it left. (I think it might have been the one which was captured and relocated a couple of years later, as I was just arriving that morning to see that process begin.)

The street is also a great place for exercise. While it is technically a two-lane street, it is wide enough to host a parking lane and a bicycle lane on both sides. Plenty of walkers and runners come by frequently; the occasional cyclist as well. Some of those walkers also had a dog or two with them; I saw a variety of breeds pass by. A blind runner and her guide were also using it for their training, although I haven't seen them much post-COVID 19.

But the best thing there were not things; they were the elementary students I escorted morning and afternoon. For almost six years I saw them grow before my eyes. Their behavior was exemplary; it was a rare moment when I had to gently but firmly remind them of a rule. I hope their futures are bright.

But now, it will be something completely different. While it a route for that elementary school, my new assignment is the final street crossing from the east for a junior high school. I will be dealing with "Tweens" instead. Add to the mix the road is actually one of the city's main four-lane arteries, with more traffic with which to contend and just two blocks away from the senior high school campus, I will have more of a challenge every shift. And with more time spent there, I will have the maximum hours at this job.

I will miss the old crossing.

But I was ready to take this on.

St. Christopher and my guardian angel, your help is needed even more.

March 2023 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when prayer the Morning Offering:

For victims of abuse. We pray for those who have suffered harm from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.

(UPDATE--3/5/2023) A reflection for this intention is found here.