Saint Patrick (389-461) was the son of a British deacon captured in a raid by Irish pirates when he was sixteen and sold into slavery, where he rebelliously served a herdsman in Northern Ireland. After six years he escaped, found his way to Gaul, there entered a monastery, and as history has it, one day had a vision to return to Ireland and evangelize them. That he did, preaching Christ in open fields, planting scores of churches and baptizing over 100,000 converts. Though later canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, who claimed him as one of their own (several Protestant groups have tried to claim him also), he simply considered himself a Celtic missionary in the British Isles, before either Roman Catholicism or Protestantism, as it is known today, came into being. Though far from us in much of his theology, his writings reveal an intimate relationship with Christ the Savior, that I desperately need in my daily walk with Him. All Patrick wanted all day long was Christ! Though we do not believe in canonization, we must confess that all believers are addressed as saints in the Bible (Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1). So let me share some good advice from one saint to another as found in one of his poems.
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 of the judgment of doom.I arise today through the strength of heaven;
light of sun, radiance of moon, splendor 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 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 near, alone and in multitude.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.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 will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised …. “
Psalm 18:1-3a
–Maynard H. Belt