The traditional St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer is a beloved prayer for many on St. Patrick’s Day, and this free printable makes it easy to share with your kids!
Whether you’re Catholic, Latter-day Saint, or of another Christian denomination, this inspiring prayer helps us point our children to Jesus Christ on Saint Patrick’s Day.
Free St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer Printable For Kids
This prayer will also help us teach our children about God’s protection and the power of His Word.
So let’s explore together how you can teach your children the word of God on Saint Patrick’s Day with this free printable St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer!
Download the free printable below and save it to your computer or tablet.
The Story Behind the Prayer
The traditional version of the St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer dates back to the fifth century and was written by Saint Patrick himself in preparation for battle against pagan forces in Ireland.
In his own words, he prayed that no evil spirit or weapon could harm him as long as he stood firm in his faith.
Even today, this prayer is used as a reminder of the power of God and His divine protection and might over all things.
This ancient Irish prayer has been passed down through generations and is still used today as a reminder that no matter what we face in life—whether it’s fear, worry, anxiety or stress—we are always protected and should never forget to ask for strength and courage when needed.
It’s a great starting point for introducing kids to the concept of using prayers for protection!
The Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Other Names For the Prayer
This prayer is also known by many other names, such as:
• St. Patrick’s Breastplate
• The Lorica of St. Patrick
• The Deer’s Cry
• The Shield of Faith
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• St. Patrick’s Hymn
Regardless of what it is known as, the Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer continues to be a powerful reminder today that our faith in God provides us with ultimate protection and strength to overcome any obstacle we may face in life.
It has stood the test of time and will continue to provide comfort and reassurance for generations to come.
How To Explain The Trinity To A Child
The trinity is a core belief to many Christians around the world for centuries.
This belief began with the Nicene Creed, which is a statement of faith that was formed in 325 AD.
The trinity states that there is one God in three persons, namely God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
This concept signifies that although these three divine persons are distinct in their roles, they are unified in purpose.
There are also Christians who believe God the Father, His son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate individuals, but who are united in purpose.
Some of these Christians include myself and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Print This Free Printable For Your Kids
This free printable makes it easy to share the story behind this popular prayer with your kids!
It includes kid-friendly graphics that help illustrate the story behind this powerful prayer and plenty of white space for coloring fun!
Use this printable to teach your kids about the power of faith and why it’s so important—plus you can use it to add some extra Irish flavor to your holiday celebrations!
And don’t forget to post pictures when you’re done.
You can tag me on Instagram. I would love to see how your family made this printable their own!
As moms, we want our children to learn about faith in ways that are engaging.
One of the best ways for us to do this is to bring faith into our holidays.
Introducing them to prayers like The Breastplate of Saint Patrick can help them appreciate one man’s great desires to serve God.
With this free printable, you can easily share this timeless prayer with your kids, and help them learn about faith in a fun and creative way.
You can download this printable (for your personal use at home or church) and sent it straight to your printer from your phone or computer for free!
This printable will help teach your family about God’s protection while providing some fun activities along the way.
So grab your crayons or colored pencils and get ready for some festive fun.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Micah Klug is a wife, homeschooling mother to five children, and author. She teaches time-tested solutions to help parents remember what matters most in life, including strengthening their home, faith, and family relationships. To learn how a child who grew up in an authoritarian home is now creating an environment of peace and joy in her own home visit this page. If you want to contact Micah, send her an email here or email [email protected].
