ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

Photo courtesy of  PDPhoto.org

Ireland

St. Patrick’s BREASTPLATE

Amended words*  or verses *by

The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

Year of Our LORD

1.24.2013

I bind unto myself today 

the strong name of The TRINITY.

By invocation of the same

the Three in ONE ~ and ONE in Three.

The BLOOD of JESUS covers me,

The BLOOD of JESUS covers me.

CHRIST be with me, CHRIST within me,

CHRIST behind me, CHRIST before me,

CHRIST beside me, CHRIST to win me;

CHRIST to comfort and defend* me.

I bind unto my self today 

the strong name of The TRINITY… 

( repeat stanza 1 )

CHRIST beneath me, CHRIST above me,

CHRIST in safety, CHRIST in danger* ;

CHRIST in hearts of all who love me,

CHRIST in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto my self today 

the strong name of The TRINITY… 

( repeat stanza 1 )

Against the demon snares of sin

   the vice that gives temptation force

   the fantasies*  that war within…

   hostile spirits+ that mar my course.

I bind unto my self today 

the strong name of The TRINITY… 

( repeat stanza 1 ) 

Few* or many, far or nigh,

in every place and in all hours

Against their fierce hostility,

I bind to me GOD’S*  Holy Powers.

 I bind unto my self today 

the strong name of The TRINITY… 

( repeat stanza 1 )

  

Against all satan’s spells and lies*

Against false words of heresy,

Against the doubt that causes fear*…

The cries of self I will not hear.

I bind myself unto The LORD*

The BLOOD of  JESUS, The Living WORD,

By invocation of HIS+ Name

Eternal SON+, ever the same.

                 

Against the wizard’s evil craft

Against the death wound and the burning,

The choking wave, the poisoned shaft…

Protect me, CHRIST, till Thy+ returning.

I bind myself unto The LORD*

The BLOOD of JESUS, The Living WORD,

By invocation of His+ Name

Eternal SON+,  ever the same.

+  +  + 

Season of the EPIPHANY ... Frankincense

Where IS HE+...

The ONE+ born

King of the Jews?

Frankincense... that fragrant herb...

also from the resin...

which helps the bitternesss of the myrrh.

MEDITATION

Our dear Heavenly FATHER, we thank THEE for always bringing enough frankincense to mix with the bitter myrrh.

We pray, O dear FATHER, that THOU canst see JESUS when THOU lookest upon our hearts.

We pray for THY FATHERLY goodness to rest upon us during our trials ... that we may bring glory unto THEE.

Sanctify our trials and make them a sweet savor unto THEE, O LORD OUR GOD.

O LORD GOD, let it never be said, when THOU lookest upon me, "Where IS HE+?Have you hidden your light under a bushel? "

Remember, O MY+ child: If you deny ME+ before men, I +  will deny you before MY+ FATHER and before the Heavenly Angels.

Where IS  HE+,

in your life,

MY child ?  



The Season of the EPIPHANY.... Myrrh



Photo of teardrop of resin of myrrh
from essentialhealth.com



The Gift of Myrrh.... that bitter herb   ...  amber teardrops of resin from gashes in the bark of that rough shrub, which grows in stony, unforgiving ground.

This gift of Divine Sorrow and Suffering was given to Our LORD JESUS as HE+ lay in the manger, for there was no room for HIM+ in the inn.

 




 

MEDITATION

Dear LORD JESUS, O THOU+ Who+ wast sent to earth to suffer for mankind, receive the suffering of our hearts.

O LORD, we know our suffering has been caused by humans... others and our own selves... humans who have not followed THEE+.

O MASTER of All-Suffering, hear our cry.

Heal my heart of the wounds lodged in my soul. Heal those who have been wounded by me, when I walked in darkness and ignorance of THEE+.

I thank THEE+ for the suffering of Thy+ heart and Thy+ body that THOU+ hast carried for me... before I even knew THEE+.

May I never forget Thy+ teardrops, O LORD. Let them reside in the cup of my heart.

Glory be to THEE+ O Great Redeemer; Glory be to THEE+.

Season of the EPIPHANY... The Day Star+

Where IS HE+...

This JESUS,

the ONE+ born

KING+ of the Jews ?

For we have seen

the Day Star+ arise

in our hearts...

And have come

to worship HIM+

with our :

GOLD

Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST extend into our piles of gold ?  Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS control our mammon, our money, our funds ? 

Would others

KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

by how we spend 

the funds

The LORD, in HIS+ goodness,

has entrusted to us ?

Does our witness

for CHRIST JESUS 

extend

into our pocketbooks?

our purses ?

our wallets?

Do we avoid beggars or people with signs, asking for money or work ?

WOULD OUR LORD AVOID THEM ?

Do we collect aluminum cans for CHRIST and crush them to sell ...  in order to donate pennies to missionaries ...  while sitting on thousands in the bank, collecting interest ?

As the good Bishop said in Les Miserables, when observing a wealthy man dropping a penny into the alms box:   " Ah, there is the richest man in the province... buying a PENNY'S worth of Heaven ! " 

What we REALLY VALUE is what we scrimp and save for, where we spend the MAJORITY of our monies. 

Are we telling GOD that we want only one-tenth of HIS goodness, with our giving ?

JESUS paid it ALL...

all to HIM+ I owe.

Sin has left a crimson stain.

HE+ washed it white as snow.

MEDITATION

O LORD GOD, THOU has made the Heavens and the earth and all the things therein; THOU+ hast need of nothing of mine. 

Heavenly FATHER, I have need of THEE. I have all need of Thy+ SON+ JESUS operating in me.

Help me manifest CHRIST JESUS with my monies.

I have need for THEE+ to control every penny that comes in my door... so Mammon does not control me through love of it ...or through fear.

I know, O my SAVIOR, that I cannot out-give THEE+.

Make me willing and un-afraid to turn the control over my funds unto THEE+.

Smite the fear, smite my worldly-wisdom, un-clog my deaf ears and re-kindle Thy+ zeal in my dull and fearful heart, for THOU+ doest all things well. 

For  Thy+ glory help me use the monies THOU+ hast given into my stewardship in a more sanctified way. 

This I pray, to the glory of GOD our FATHER; in the Name of Our Manifested SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Amen.  

Season of the EPIPHANY.....

Where is HE+

Who+ has been born

King of the Jews ?

for we have seen His+ star in the East and are come to worship HIM+. 

 They presented unto HIM+ gifts: 

Gold... 

MEDITATION

O LORD , THOU+ Who+ receiveth gifts fit for a King,  receive  the offering of myself ... my life...  unto THEE+. 

What can I give HIM+, poor as I am ? 

I will give HIM+ my life and worship HIM+ through this offering of my heart.     

EPIPHANY... The Manifestation of The LORD Among Us

Begotten before the morning stars

Our LORD from Everlasting,

Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Made Manifest unto the world

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !

Behold, One like

The SON+ of Man

came with the clouds of Heaven,

and came

to the Ancient of Days

and they brought HIM+ near before HIM.

And there was given HIM+

dominion, and glory, and a kingdom

that all people, nations, and languages

should serve HIM+;

His+ dominion is

an Everlasting Dominion

which shall not pass away,

and His+ Kingdom

that which shall not be destroyed.

HalleluJAH !

Daniel 7

Where were you when...

The morning stars sang together

and all the Sons of GOD

shouted for joy ?

Job 38:7

Thy people shall be willing

in the day of Thy+ power;

in the beauties of holiness

from the womb of the morning,

THOU+ hast the dew of

Thy youth.

Psalm 110

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 12th Day of Christmastide

The Appointed Heir of all things

Through  WHOM+ was made the worlds

WHO+ was the brightness of HIS glory

and the Express Image of

HIS ESSENCE

and upholding all things by the Word

of HIS Power...

When HE+ had by HIMSELF+

purged our sins,

HE+ sat down on the right hand

of the MAJESTY on high...

O Come,

Let us Adore HIM+  !

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 11th Day of Christmastide

I+  Am

The ROOT

and OFFSPRING

of David,

The Bright and Morning Star

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

I shall behold HIM+

but not near;

there shall come a

STAR out of Jacob,

And a Scepter shall rise

out of Israel....

Out of Jacob shall HE+ come

WHO+ shall have dominion...

Numbers 24

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Thy+ people shall be willing

in the Day of Thy+ Power;

in the beauties of Holiness

from the womb of the morning,

THOU+ hast the dew

of Thy youth.

Psalm 110 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD

O Come, let us Adore HIM+ !

Looking unto JESUS,

the Author and Finisher of our faith,

WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the Throne of GOD.

Hebrews 12 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !



The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 10th Day of Christmastide

The LAMB+

is the light

of the City of GOD.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

JESUS The LIGHT of the world...
HE+   is the TRUE Light
which lighteth every man...
whosoever will come to HIM+
in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+



We are sent to bear witness of That Divine Light... and woe unto us if we refuse that charge! A false witness shall not be un-punished.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+

For with THEE is the fountain of Life; in Thy light shall we see light.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Men loved darkness rather than Light,

because their deeds were evil .

For everyone that doeth evil

hateth the Light,

neither cometh to the Light,

lest his deeds should be reproved. 

JESUS the LIGHT of the world

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

But he that doeth TRUTH cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD. 

JESUS the LIGHT of the world

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ ! 

The WORD+ Incarnate... the 9th Day of Christmastide

The New Jerusalem

has no Temple for the

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

and the LAMB+ are its temple.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Such a fabulous city is this New Jerusalem, whose Builder and Maker is GOD, the city which Abraham looked for, a city which had foundations (Hebrews 11:10)  in the Heavenlies. 

Ahh.. those foundations are like no other foundations of any other fabulous city in either the ancient or the modern world.

This city wall has 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of The LAMB+.  These foundations were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. 

The 12 gates were 12 pearls of such magnitude that each individual gate was ONE PEARL! 

Furthermore, 12 Angels were stationed at the gates, one per gate.

Pure gold like transparent glass pave the streets of this fabulous New Jerusalem, which came down from Heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Even more, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 

Meditation

O LAMB+ of GOD,  slain from the foundation of the world, JESUS CHRIST, the Holy CHILD+ born in Bethlehem at the time appointed by The FATHER,

We glorify THEE+ for Thy every act of Good Will purposed, planned, and carried out for mankind from the foundation of the world... in accordance with the Will of Our FATHER in Heaven. 

O HOLY FATHER in Heaven, help us so to agree with Thy Will that we may walk in unity this day with THEE, with Thy Holy SON+ JESUS, and with Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT... the three WHO point to the ONE, consubstantial, undivided Tri-Une GOD !    

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 8th Day of Christmastide

Behold,

I+

make all things new.

O Come,

Let us Adore HIM+ !

I+ AM

Alpha and Omega,

the beginning

and the end.

Blessing, honor, glory

and power

unto HIM

that sitteth

upon the throne

and unto The LAMB+ !

Meditation

O GOD Our FATHER, Who for our redemption, hast given Thine Only-Begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to the death of the Cross and by HIS+ glorious resurrection , hast delivered us from the power of the adversary;

Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may forever live with HIM+ in the joy of His+ Resurrection through the same Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST our LORD,

Who+ lives and reigns with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, now and forever, to the endless Eternal ages. Amen.  

The WORD+ Incarnate....the 7th Day of Christmastide

EMMANUEL

Faithful and True,

Judging in righteousness,

Ruling all nations

With a Rod of Iron...

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Meditation

And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself shall be with them and be their GOD.

Rev. 21

O EMMANUEL+ , SON +  of the Living GOD, we thank THEE+ for donning the robe of flesh to live among us. 

We thank THEE+ for meeting satan as the Second Adam, and defeating him, so that mankind could escape the father of lies.

Help us, O EMMANUEL+ , to cling to THEE+ , Faithful and True ONE+, Who+ cannot lie.  

Blessed be GOD:

FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT.

And, blessed be HIS Kingdom,

both now and forever,

world without end.

Amen. 

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 6th Day of Christmastide

GOD shall wipe away

all tears from their eyes... 

No more death,

no sorrow, no crying, no pain... 

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Proper Preface

(adapted version)

Because THOU didst give JESUS CHRIST, Thine only-Begotten SON+

begotten of His+ FATHER

before all worlds;

Who+ was

conceived by the HOLY SPIRIT,

born of the Hebrew virgin, Mariam,

and was 

GOD of GOD, 

LIGHT of LIGHT,

Very GOD of Very GOD,

begotten, not made,

being of ONE SUBSTANCE

with The FATHER,

by Whom+ all things were made.

But, when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth His SON+ , made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

And because ye are sons, GOD hath sent forth the SPIRIT of His SON+ into your hearts, crying, ABBA , FATHER ! 

Wherefore, thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of GOD through CHRIST.

Galatians 4: 4-7    

Meditation

Our FATHER, Which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.

I thank THEE for the promise of Eternal Life through Thy Precious Gift+ to mankind ...  for every person who will receive that Gift+ of Thy Holy SON+ JESUS.

I sing Thy Praise ! May I never take my eyes from His+ Face !

In the Name of the Precious CHRIST-CHILD, JESUS our LORD, I pray.

  

+  +  +

The WORD+ Incarnate.... 5th Day of Christmastide

GOD is not the God of the dead

but of the living;

for to HIM+

all are alive.

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !

PLEASE NOTE: December 28th on the Christian Calendar is the Remembrance of the Death of the Holy Innocents, the little ones whom Herod put to death in his attempt to slay the Holy CHILD+ JESUS. We will commemorate that today.

From Matthew 2, starting with verse 13:

The angel of the LORD appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young CHILD+ and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young CHILD+ to destroy HIM+.

When he arose, he took the young CHILD+ and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: was was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was sppoken of the LORD by the prophet , saying, Out of Egypt hve I called My SON+. 

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently equired of the wise men. 

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children , and would not be comforted, because they are not. 

Meditation

(Collect  for the Death of the Holy Innocents ) 

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify THEE by their innocence in death; 

We praise THEE for taking unto Thyself those little lives, the babes killed by Thine enemies, and to comfort them with Thy glory.

O Great Comforter of the Sorrowing, mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by Thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify Thy Holy Name; through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen. 

+  +  + 

The WORD+ Incarnate.... 4th Day of Christmastide

Behold,

the DESIRE+ of All Nations

shall come,

O Come,

Let us adore HIM+ !

And lo, the angel of The LORD

came upon them,

and the glory of The LORD shone

round about them;

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you

Good Tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the BABE+ wrapped

in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger. 

And suddenly, there was with the angel, 

a multitude of the Heavenly Host, 

praising GOD, and saying, 

Glory to GOD in the Highest, 

and on earth

peace,

good will toward men.

Luke 2: 9-14

Meditation and Collect

Grant , O LORD, that , in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy Truth, we may learn to steadfastly look up to Heaven and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed.  

May we be so filled with Thy HOLY SPIRIT that we may learn to love and bless our persecuotrs by the example of KING+ JESUS, Our EMMANUEL+. 

We remember Thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who, lifting  his eyes to Heaven, was strengthened to endure unto the end.

We recall that Stephen prayed for his murderers to THEE+, O blessed JESUS, WHO+ standing at the right hand of GOD, is able and willing to succour all those who suffer for THEE+, our only Divine Mediator and Advocate. Amen   

The WORD+ Incarnate ... 3rd Day of Christmas

Our King+ and SAVIOR

now draws nigh;

O Come,

Let us adore HIM+ !

+

Rejoice greatly,

O daughter of Zion!

Shout,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your KING+ cometh

unto thee;

HE+ is just,

and having salvation;

lowly,

and riding upon

as ass and upon a colt,

the foal of an ass.

Zechariah 9:9

Meditation (Collect)

O GOD, Who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Thine only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST; Grant that as we joyfully receive HIM+ for our REDEEMER, so we may with sure confidence behold HIM+ when HE+ shall come to be our Judge, Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, world without end. Amen. 

O LORD, as we remember Thy Holy Humility THOU+ didst embrace in order to be robed in the mortal flesh of men, help us to embrace humility in a holy fashion in order to bear perfect witness unto THEE+.

For Thy+ Name's sake we pray, O Great REDEEMER. 

+  +  + 



The WORD+ Incarnate

CHRIST the KING

ever reigns on High,

O COME

LET US ADORE HIM+ . 

Almighty GOD, Who hast given us Thy only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to take our nature upon HIM+,  and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin;

Grant that we being regenerated and made Thy children by adoption after repentance and by Grace through the Holy Waters of BAPTISM,

That we may daily be renewed by Thy HOLY SPIRIT;

Through the same Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and the same SPIRIT ever, one GOD, world without end.

Here is the Man+

named "The Branch"

Who+ will be seated

on His+ Throne

and the government

shall be upon His+ Shoulders.

+  +  +

A SAVIOUR IS BORN !

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a SAVIOUR+

Who+ is

CHRIST the LORD !

Luke 2:11 

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
art not the least among the princes of Judah:
for out of thee shall HE+ come forth unto ME
WHO+ is to be ruler of Israel, 
WHOSE+ goings forth have been
from of Old, from Everlasting !
Micah 5:2 

JESUS

knowing that The FATHER

had given all things

into HIS+ hands

and that HE+ was come from GOD

and went to GOD;

HE+ riseth from supper,

and laid aside His+ garments

and took a towel

and girded Himself+.

After that, HE+ poured water

into a basin,

and began to wash the disciples' feet,

and to wipe them

with the towel wherewith

HE+ was girded.

John 13

My LORD has garments so wondrous fine

And myrrh their texture fills;

Its fragrance reached

to this heart of mine,

With joy my being thrills. 

Out of those Ivory Palaces

Into a world of woe, 

Only HIS+ Great

Eternal Love

Made my SAVIOUR+ go.

Hymn by

Henry Barraclough

Charles M Alexander