Monday Morning Offering: 6/1

Coffee in the Morning

The Lorica (Breastplate) is a prayer attributed to Saint Patrick (c. 337). You might picture Patrick donning his faith as the breastplate in his armor as he faces a new day.   The Lorica comes to mind this Monday after Trinity Sunday because it opens and closes with these words:

    I arise today
    through a mighty strength,
    the invocation of the Trinity:
    through a belief in the Threeness,
    through confession of the Oneness
    of the Creator of creation.

 

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Good morning, good God!

Like Patrick, Lord, I want to don 

    the armor of faith, hope and love:

    the breastplate of the Father, Son and Spirit,

    the strength of the grace you offer me

        to meet whatever challenge

            may come my way today...

 

Give me the armor of perseverance 

    to move through this day with courage;

give me wisdom I need to think clearly

        and to make good choices and decisions;

give me humility, that I might learn

    to put my neighbor's needs before my own;

give me purity, to seek what's true, 

    praiseworthy, genuine and whole;

give me patience, 

    to bear with others kindly;

give me the generosity to share 

    not just from my bounty but also from my want; 

and give me the reverence I owe to you, 

    to all creation, to my neighbor and to myself...

 

I offer you my person, Lord,

my heart and soul, my mind and body,

I offer you my self, Lord:

    arm me with conviction,

    drape me in mercy,

    vest me in virtue,

    garb me in grace,

    equip me with strength and courage,

    clothe me in a generous spirit

    and be my shield against any and all

        who would come between you and me...

I offer you my weak, naked self, Lord:

    cover my shame, 

    gird me with strength,

    clothe me in dignity

    and wrap me in your glory,

    the robe of my salvation

lest anyone or anything

    come between you and me...

Amen.

 

The Deer's Cry by Shaun Davey

    performed by Rita Connolly 

 

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