Iona Encircling
LORICA
The early Celtic church had many
'breastplate prayers', or 'lorica', which
Declared the surrounding and
Encompassing of God. Such prayers were
Not to make God come - He is already
There - but to open our eyes to the reality.
In breastplate prayers, the person who
Prays seeks to become aware of what is
Already a reality.
(The lyrics are 4th century Irish, attributed to St Patrick)
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard
TARA
(Tara, the ancient capital of Ireland)
At Tara today in this fateful hour
I place all Heaven with its power
And the sun with its brightness
And the snow with its whiteness
And the fire with all the strength it hath
And the lightning with its rapid wrath
And the winds with their swiftness along the path
And the earth with its starkness.
All these I place by God's almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard
CAIM
Along with the prayer of encompassing,
The Celtic Christians had a practice called
The 'caim', in which they drew around them
A circle ... this was a symbol of the encircling love of God.
The Mighty Three
My protection Be
Encircling me
You are around
My life, my home
Encircling me
O sacred Three
