This prayer comes from the Lorica, or “Breastplate,” attributed to St. Patrick in the 8th century. It invokes Christ’s presence in every direction, every posture, every encounter of the day. Pray it this morning as a shield against distraction and a reminder that you are never alone.
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 every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Salvation is of the Lord, salvation is of the Lord, salvation is of Christ; may thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Attributed to St. Patrick, 8th century ‘Lorica’
How this prayer works
The prayer asks for one thing: Christ’s abiding presence in every dimension of existence. It moves through spatial directions (before, behind, above, beneath, left, right), bodily postures (lying, sitting, rising), and relational spheres (in the hearts and mouths of others). The Lorica tradition comes from the Irish monastic practice of reciting protective prayers, often called “breastplates” because they functioned as spiritual armor against evil. St. Patrick is said to have prayed this before entering pagan territories.
For today, this prayer reorients attention. When you pray “Christ before me,” you are acknowledging that He goes ahead into the meeting you dread, the email you must send, the conversation you cannot avoid. When you pray “Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,” you are entrusting your reputation, your relationships, your influence to His work in others, not your own performance. The repetition is deliberate: fifteen “Christ with” or “Christ in” phrases in under a minute train the mind to see Him everywhere.
Pray it slowly before you leave the house, or silently at your desk before opening your laptop. Let each phrase settle as a fact, not a wish. Carry it through this morning.
