I recently became familiar with the late Rev. Ian Cowie’s excellent meditation (from here and here) on St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
Meditation on St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Christ behind me.
Christ before me.
Christ beside me.
Christ between us.
Christ beneath me.
Christ above me.
Christ within me.
Christ behind me. In the past, all that has been good is in His keeping. I need no regrets, no mementoes.
I can let go of all that was good, knowing that it is precious to Him.
Give thanks to God for all His goodness.
All that was bad, hurtful, shameful, I consign into the depths of His mercy. All the hurt which I have caused, all the hurt which others have caused me,
I lay at the foot of His cross. May the Lord have mercy on us all.
Christ before me. He is the Way stretching before me, from where I am now from this actual situation I am in, right home to our Father’s house. He is the Way, the Way prepared. He has gone ahead into tomorrow to make it ready. The future is a journey home. Through all the dark valleys He will guide and He will provide times when my cup of happiness will overflow. I face the future knowing the Way.
Christ beside me. “I am with you always.” He is in this situation, sharing it with me now. His strong shoulder is under the burden I carry. Every joy and every sorrow He shares with me. He will not fail me, nor forsake me. Nothing can separate me from His love.
Christ between us. To sever and to reconcile, to shield us from the sin in one another. To bless all that is good and true. To cleanse from pride, possessiveness, lust. To give laughter, tears, understanding and peace.
Christ beneath me. Underneath are the everlasting arms, cherishing, upholding. When I fall, it is into His arms that I fall. And He will lift me up again. His strength undergirds my weakness.
Christ above me. As a hen gathers her chicks so His love is spread over me, comforting me, shielding me. I claim His protection from all attack and oppression. Under the shadow of His wings I am safe. And in Him will I trust.
Christ within me. I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. My body is Christ’s body, bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh. By the bread broken and the wine poured out, I know that You, Lord, are in me and I in You. You will accomplish the work that You have for me to do, and Your grace is sufficient for me.
Christ behind me in the past, before me in the future, beside me in the present, beneath me to support me, above me to shield me, within me filling my life. Thus enfolded, armed and led, I go forth in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(This meditation was written by the Reverend Ian Cowie of the Scottish Centre of Healing, Edinburgh, Scotland.)