As we hoist our tankards of green beer today, it’s worth taking a moment to recall St. Patrick himself (c. 398-c. 461), an important historical figure. Born in Roman Britain, he was sold into slavery in Ireland. After six years he escaped, returning first to Britain, then traveling to the continent, where he was ordained a priest. Patrick then returned to Ireland, preaching in the West and North, the wildest regions of what was then a very wild country. Patrick left us a number of documents, including his Confessio, which he composed as an old man, and which scholars consider authentic, and the Lorica, a prayer that tradition has always associated with him. Below, excerpts of the Lorica (for the entire prayer, look here). Note in particular the second verse. St. Patrick predated him by some eight centuries, but he had just as intense a love of the natural world as did St. Francis. I bind to myself today [to] The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism, The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial, The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension, The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day…. I bind to myself today [to] The power of Heaven, The light of the sun, The brightness of the moon, The splendour of fire, The flashing of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of sea, The stability of earth, The compactness of rocks…. I invoke today all these virtues Against every hostile merciless power Which may assail my body and my soul, Against the incantations of false prophets, Against the black laws of heathenism, Against the false laws of heresy, Against the deceits of idolatry, Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids, Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man….