Lorica, fr. Latin meaning "body armor (of Roman soldiers)," describes the evangelist priest and Bishop, who was born of Scottish and English parents. His early life in the 14th century was hard, having been kidnapped by raiders, when in his teens, twice, and sold and made a keeper of sheep. During his first escape from slavery, he was sold back into slavery in Ireland, escaped again and spent seven years in Europe. Having found Christ as his master during his sheep-herding days, he wanted to further his education and study the Christianity at the Lerin Monastery in France.
After becoming a priest and returning to England, he had a dream that the Irish people called out to him to return to Ireland to minister to them. He did and by his deep faith that the Lord was ordering his steps, he preached “Christ and Him crucified, buried and risen from the dead,” to pagan Druids. This fiery priest was made a Bishop in 432 AD. The term "lorica" or breastplate is similar to the Apostle Paul's admonition in Ephesians.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11-17). "
Patrick and his band of dedicated followers, were responsible for many conversions. His zeal to drive paganism, symbolic of snakes, from Ireland, motivated him to write many breastplate prayers, like this one from the 4th century, attributed to St. Patrick.
I bind 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.
Patrick tried hard to see to the conversion of the King of Tara, who gave him freedom to spread the gospel throughout the land. He plucked a Shamrock from the ground and told him that there was but one stem, but three branches representing the Holy Trinity. It impressed the king greatly, but there is no evidence of his conversion, much like Paul preaching to King Agrippa, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Acts 26:28)."
Nevertheless, Patrick and his followers were free to spread their faith throughout Ireland and did so to great effect. He drove paganism (symbolized by the snake) from the lands of Eireann.
"Patrick died on March 17th in the year 461 at the age of 76."
Source: Ireland Information
_________________________
Chuckle: When we think of Ireland, we also think of Limericks. My favorite is as follows:
The Reverend Fiddle from Tralee,
Received an honorary degree,
But he reeled in dismay,
When he heard people say,
Here comes The Reverend Fiddle, D.D.
(Author: don't know, don't ask)
After becoming a priest and returning to England, he had a dream that the Irish people called out to him to return to Ireland to minister to them. He did and by his deep faith that the Lord was ordering his steps, he preached “Christ and Him crucified, buried and risen from the dead,” to pagan Druids. This fiery priest was made a Bishop in 432 AD. The term "lorica" or breastplate is similar to the Apostle Paul's admonition in Ephesians.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:11-17). "
Patrick and his band of dedicated followers, were responsible for many conversions. His zeal to drive paganism, symbolic of snakes, from Ireland, motivated him to write many breastplate prayers, like this one from the 4th century, attributed to St. Patrick.
I bind 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.
Patrick tried hard to see to the conversion of the King of Tara, who gave him freedom to spread the gospel throughout the land. He plucked a Shamrock from the ground and told him that there was but one stem, but three branches representing the Holy Trinity. It impressed the king greatly, but there is no evidence of his conversion, much like Paul preaching to King Agrippa, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Acts 26:28)."
Nevertheless, Patrick and his followers were free to spread their faith throughout Ireland and did so to great effect. He drove paganism (symbolized by the snake) from the lands of Eireann.
"Patrick died on March 17th in the year 461 at the age of 76."
Source: Ireland Information
_________________________
Chuckle: When we think of Ireland, we also think of Limericks. My favorite is as follows:
The Reverend Fiddle from Tralee,
Received an honorary degree,
But he reeled in dismay,
When he heard people say,
Here comes The Reverend Fiddle, D.D.
(Author: don't know, don't ask)
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