THE FEAST OF SAINT PATRICK

A legionary wearing the Lorica Segmentata

Today we celebrate a home-grown British missionary saint, a cause of great joy. As a young man Patrick was sent away to study in Paris, and received a very powerful vocation from Almighty God to be a messenger of Christ to the people of Ireland. He spent his life in the service of God and of the Irish people and built a community of Faith which was once called the land of saints and scholars.

In his mystical writings we count the Breastplate, or "Lorica", which is also the word used for the incantations used by Roman soldiers going into battle, as we should use this prayer going into our spiritual warfare of Obsequium Pauperum et Tuitio Fidei. This famous prayer is a gift to the whole Church. 

Fr Z has a lovely post HERE, giving the text in both Latin and English, and a 'podcast' which you may listen to HERE. We are very grateful to him.

St Patrick, pray for us.