The Breastplate

simplicity // 8
the Breastplate

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.

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 man 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.

from St Patrick’s Breastplate prayer.


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action point:

Spend time at the start of today reading the short extract above, in a quiet place, preferably out loud. Try to take each phrase slowly, and carefully.

If possible, why not repeat the act at elevenses or lunch, and in the afternoon or evening, so that you create a very simple rhythm of prayer for St Patrick’s Day. Find a busy place to read the ‘repeat’ in your head, and become conscious of “Christ in every eye that sees me”.

(You can read the whole prayer by clicking here. So alternatively, if you have time, you could read the full version prayerfully from start to finish.)

In addition, you may wish to read from Ephesians 6:10-17 in the Bible. St Patrick’s Breastplate prayer echoes this passage.



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rsvp:

“About the Keepsake: I would take the bookmark that my mother gave me, aged 10, just before she died. It has the well-known poem ‘Footprints in the Sand’ printed on the front and her love written on the back. For those of us who feel that we still have not quite emerged from the desert yet this Lent, remember the final lines of the poem: ‘And the Lord replied, "My son, my precious child/I love you and I would never leave you./During your times of trial and suffering,/when you see only one set of footprints,/it was then that I carried you."’” Kate

“Funny how some 'things' that are important to me are hidden or I have to find them. I left work early yesterday, went home and into the garage. I found my deck chair and took it to the garden. The sun was out and so was my family. My deck chair is very important to me because it represents a chance to relax and be still, and it speaks of an approaching summer. A new season, more light, warmth and time spent outside. As I sat I just closed my eyes and listened. Cars, lawn mower, birds but no people. I was amazed (and even more so given today's email, the Blank Page) by how much time I seem to spend with people saying things. Talking, listening, music, TV, Internet - it has become an overload. A constant need to be communicating or entertained. My deck chair has helped me think about maybe leaving some pages or parts of pages blank...” Ben

“Reflecting on the Alarm was poignant in the wake of the terrible devastation in Japan. I could not remove from my mind the image I had seen on TV the night before of a young woman, completely traumatised by the scene she was witnessing... This has remained with me as a reminder that I don't thank and praise God enough for the blessings that I take so much for granted; life itself, my daily food, my comfortable home, the love of my family and friends. The catastrophe in Japan has emphasised how fragile life is. So, as I revel in the return of spring, my favourite season, I am trying to take time to relish the new life and beauty of creation and the sacrament of the present moment that is so often ignored because of the pace of life. PS Today's meditation, the Blank Page, inspired me to write this e-mail, with more care than I usually take.” Diana

“(The Keepsake) What might be left behind but never forgotten? A small bracelet given to me by my grandparents when I was a baby remains a treasure...Then there’s the old lace handkerchief with its accompanying tale of weddings and not-so weddings, hand-written by my mother. I have a painting, commissioned by my husband, of my favourite garden and another, painted by my father, of the coastal footpath we used to walk when I was a child. I have a collection of 26 wedding anniversary cards from my husband; along with Mother’s Day and birthday cards. I have a pile of paintings from my three children as they grew, and a box of Christmas tree decorations which each tell a story from our family. I have saved our favourite children’s bedtime story books; favourite cuddly toys and a few very tiny new-born baby clothes. By my bed I keep an expanding box of finger puppets presented by my daughter each birthday. Yes, I have enough objects at hand to illustrate my life story, and more. What do these things say about me? The child, the wife, the mother, the story-keeper?” Sandra

“I am struggling this Lent, as I struggled last year. Day 1 – stop – was so hard but that was my best effort at an action point. I have reacted strongly against the notion of today being a blank space. The bit that doesn’t contain meetings contains an out-of-control inbox which must be balanced against the tasks that need doing – some of which will ultimately not get done. Sometimes there are business dinners adding late nights to the early mornings. In short, once Monday morning swings around it feels like a case of running hard until Friday night. And yet I think I get the principle – I will do the white space thing with today’s emails; and I will try to walk between meetings if I can manufacture the time.” Tim

“


“ Nev (The Blank Page)

“I always considered blank pages as a ‘work in progress’ or a task I had to reluctantly complete, and in most cases something to dread. How different to consider it potential. Perhaps my half-full cup has been half empty all this time? Wakey-wakey!” Keith

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May you arise, today, through a mighty strength.
Go well!

Brian