The Lorica Sancti Patricii, known simply as “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate” is an Old Irish protective prayer attributed to Saint Patrick. Also known by its Middle Irish name Faeth Fiada or the “Deer’s Cry,” a name found in the 11th century Liber Hymnorum. Tradition states that Saint Patrick had uttered this prayer to escape the ambush set by King Loegaire. By uttering this prayer, St. Patrick and his followers were able to transform into deer with the instruction that its utterance by anyone will protect them from danger. This prayer represents the intertwining of two traditions: that of the interpretation of Saint Paul’s instruction to “put on the breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thess. 5:8) and the pre-Christian tradition of deer being transformed superphysical beings, often harpers being pursued by a king.
The version presented here is in Modern Irish and was translated by Rev. James Goodson. While it is written in pre-reform Irish, this translation was chosen due to it containing the complete prayer. I encourage those adept at contemporary Irish, Scots Gaelic, or Manx to offer a new translation so that others may use this prayer in one’s practice.
Modern Irish (1874)
Nasgaim me féin, a n-diu, le neart tréan, guidhe na Tríonóide.
Creidim a d-trí pearsanna le h-admháil aondachta Chruithuightheóra an bhreitheamhnuis.
Nasgaim me féin a n-diu le neart gine Chríosd agus le na bhaisde,
le neart a chrochda agus a adhluicthe,
le neart a eiséirghe agus a dheasghabhála
le neart a theachda chum breitheamhnuis lae an bhrátha.
Nasgaim me féin a n-diu le neart grádha Sheraphín,
a n-umhluigheachd aingeal,
a bh-freasdal na n-árdaingeal,
a n-dóthchas na h-eiséirghe mar luachraothair,
a n-urnuighthibh na n-Athrach n-uasal,
a d-tairrghireachd na bh-fuirmideach,
a seanmóntaibh na n-Easbal,
a g-creideamh na bh-fuismideach,
a n-glaine na m-bannaomh,
a n-gníomhaibh na bh-fíréan.
Nasgaim me féin a n-diu le neart Nenne,
solus gréine,
gille na geallaighe,
aoibhneas teineadh,
déine tinnteach,
luaithe gaoithe,
doimhneachd mara,
seasmhachd talmhan,
dainigne na gacairgeaċ.
Nasgaim me féin a n-diu le neart Dé do'm stiúrughadh,
cúmhachd Dé do'm chongbháil suas,
ciall Dé do'm threórughadh,
súil Dé do'm fhaire,
cluas Dé do'm éisdeachd,
briáthar Dé le labhairt ar mo shon,
lámh Dé do'm chosnamh,
slíghe Dé romham,
sciath Dé do'm dhídean,
sluagh Dé do'm anacul,
ar dholuibh deamhon,
ar mhealltóireachd dhubháilceadh,
ar fhormadaibh aigne,
ar gach n-duine iarras mo dhíoghbháil,
a g-cein nó a n-gar dom,
a n-aonar nó le sluagh.
Cuirim a n-diu na nearta so uile
idir me-féin agus gach neart naimhdeamhuil ead-trócaireach thiocfadh a n-aghaidh mo chuirp nó m'anama:
a n-aghaidh thairrghireachd fhaidheadh fallsa,
a n-aghaidh dubhreachda págánach,
a n-aghaidh saobh-reachda eiriceach,
a n-aghaidh timceallachd iodhaladhriodh,
a n-aghaidh piseóga ban, agus gaibhneadh agus druadh,
a n-aghaidh gach feasa do thruaillfeadh corp agus anam an duine.
Críosd do'm ċosnaṁ a n-diu ar gach gné niemhe,
ar losgadh, ar bhathadh, ar ghuin,
nó go bh-faghainn iomad luardheachdadh.
Críosd liom, Críosd rómham, Críosd am dhiaigh,
Críosd ionnam, Críosd fúm, Críosd os mo ċionn,
Críosd ar mo dheis, Críosd ar mo láimhchlé,
Críosd a leithead, Críosd a bh-daide, Críosd a n-aoirde,
Críosd a g-croiḋe gach n-duine smuaineas orm,
Críosd a m-béad gach n-duine labhras liom,
Críosd a súil gach n-duine fhéachas orm,
Críosd a g-cluais gach n-aon chloisfeas me.
Nasgaim me féin a n-diu le neart tréan, guidhe na Tríonóide.
Creidim a d-trí pearsanna, le h-admháil aondachda Cruithuightheóra an bhreitheamhnuis.
Domini est sálus, Domini est sálus, Cristi est salus.
Salus tua Dómine sit semper nobiscum. Amen.