St. Patrick's Prayer -- or "The Deer's Cry"

READER'S NOTE: Saint Patrick reached Ireland with the gospel during a very dark time. The method he used so successfully is chronicled in George Hunter III's, "The Celtic Way of Evangelism" and Thomas Cahill's "How The Irish Saved Civilization." Patrick was called "The Deer" because of a failed attempt to kill him. An Irish tribal king laid in wait to kill Patrick and his followers as they went down a path to the next village. A fog set in and all the killers could see were some deer moving down the path. When the fog lifted they saw, not deer tracks, but the tracks of men. It was assumed that God made them appear as deer so they could pass safely by, and the name stuck. The Rochester Church of Christ uses this prayer (modified) when we send out missionaries or hire new staff. This translation is by Patrick Mead.

St. Patrick's Prayer

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preachings of apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

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 host to save me from snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

I summon today
All these powers between me and these evils:
Against every cruel, merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul:
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against witchcraft and idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ 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 when I arise.
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me.
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.