Welcome to this ancient Irish encircling prayer,
The Deer's Cry.
First the story,
Then the prayer.
St Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world,
Wherever the Irish have travelled.
The patron saint of Ireland,
Patrick,
Is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland,
Returning to evangelise after escaping his enslavement here.
The story goes that he was captured somewhere in Britain,
Perhaps Cornwall,
By raiders and sold in Ireland as a slave,
Where he was put to work as a shepherd.
Although he escaped,
His heart had been captured by the people,
And so he returned to Ireland as a free man to spread the good word.
The prayer was initially composed by St Patrick in the year 433.
It's a really important link within Irish spirituality,
A bridge,
If you like,
Between Christianity and pre-Christian Bardic poetry.
It's known variously as the lorica of St Patrick,
A lorica being a type of armour which protects the torso.
So also then,
It's known as St Patrick's breastplate.
The prayer is for protection,
And this is clear in the text of the poem,
Which is also sometimes known as The Deer's Cry.
I'm sharing with you here the version of this ancient prayer that appears in the 11th century manuscript,
Liber Hymnorum,
Where it has a title Bá Beada,
Which is interpreted as The Cry of the Deer,
But is more properly translated as A Mist of Concealment.
So this is a true,
Authentic,
Ancient version of the Celtic spirituality practice of encircling prayer.
He was aware that there was an ambush to try and kill him and his group when they were en route to the king's court.
It was during this march that they sang The Deer's Cry.
As the druids lay in hiding,
Ready to kill,
It is said that they saw not Patrick and his men,
But rather a gentle doe followed by twenty fawns.
The miracle saved Patrick and his men.
This ancient encircling prayer is a beautiful celebration of a divine source,
A god,
A ground of our being,
Who lives with us,
Guiding us,
Sheltering us,
Strengthening us.
A divine spark who is with us and within us and in us through all of creation.
The Deer's Cry I arise today through the strength of heaven,
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the 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 way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me,
Afar and in near,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today against wounding,
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 in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of Creation.
I arise today.
I arise today.
I arise today.
I arise today.
