There are many beautiful Irish blessings and prayers, but Saint Patrick’s Breastplate – or the “Lorica of St. Patrick” – is among the most enduring. Saint Patrick was said to have written it for protection on his missionary journeys, which is perhaps why its verse structure has been compared to Druid poetry. Cecil Frances Alexander translated the words into English in 1889 and set them to a traditional Irish melody. The prayer of protection includes these well-known verses along with many other memorable ones:
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me”