A Frosty Glass and St. Patrick's Breastplate
Without giving away too much of the book or Patrick's story, I will tell you that he is a man with a burden to help others, especially those enslaved in 5th century Ireland (Patrick himself was a slave early in his life). He was not the intellectual Augustine was, but worked hard at becoming learned in the Scriptures.
"St. Patrick's Breastplate" is a prayer attributed to him, although as Cahill writes, "If Patrick did not write in (at least in its current form), it surely takes its inspiration from him." The prayer is a reflection of the time, and the dangers before him, a man who traveled throughout a dark and dangerous countryside, preaching the Gospel and advocating for the end of slavery.
So today, join me in celebrating the good saint's legacy of justice and love by reading this prayer aloud and raising a frosty glass of green lager:
St. Patrick's Breastplate
- I arise today
- Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
- Through the 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 obedience of angels,
- In the service of archangels,
- In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
- In prayers of patriarchs,
- In predictions of prophets,
- In preaching of apostles,
- In faith of confessors,
- In innocence of holy virgins,
- In deeds of righteous men.
- I arise today
- Through the strength of heaven:
- Light of sun,
- Radiance of moon,
- Splendor of fire,
- Speed of lightning,
- Swiftness of wind,
- Depth of sea,
- Stability of earth,
- 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 way to lie before me,
- God's shield to protect me,
- God's host to save me
- From snares of devils,
- From temptations of vices,
- From everyone who shall wish me ill,
- Afar and anear,
- Alone and in multitude.
- I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
- Against every cruel 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 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.
Worth Much More Than a Quarter
Asher, my son, asked my wife and me for an allowance.
We smiled. We exchanged a knowing glance at each other. We'd been waiting for this day.
Leah and I decided that we were not going to pay our children to do things that are a part of normal, day-to-day, being-a-part-of-a-family things (See: take out the trash, make your bed, pick up dog plops, etc.) Rather, we decided that we would "pay" for our kids to do things that we value and see as important. In Asher's case, we came up with reading books, then reporting back to us. A book report, per se. But I decided to add a touch of Geek Dad, in this case: Books + Reports + Technology (Posterous/Gmail) = Asher's reading blog, "25 Cents for My Thoughs". For each book he reads and blogs about, he earns 25 cents. His first post, a brief review of Brian Moses' Trouble at the Dinosaur Cafe, is up now. (NOTE: I added an Amazon affiliate link in the post. If anyone clicks on the link in Asher's blog and buys the book, he get's store credit to buy books of his own.)
My hope is that Asher reads himself a library . . .and I go broke, one quarter at a time.
Being Darth Vadar
As a kindergartner, I remember parading class to class on October 31st, in a Darth Vadar costume. I had a certain swagger when I rocked that black plastic and vinyl getup. It felt good to be a bad guy, even for an afternoon and evening. Maybe this is the Original Sin theologians talk about, this desire to be a bad guy, even when you know it's not right. Turn thirty or so pages, and sometimes I wear that Vadar costume in my heart. Sometimes, while my kids and I wait in a long line at Target, I want to be a bad guy and tell that fool to shut the Sheol up as he talks loudly (and crudely) on his iPhone. Other times I don't even stop to think about being a bad guy--I just do it. I wish I had gotten all that bad guy out of me on that Halloween parade.
(Thanks to Chadwick Trentham, my Chewbacca, for sharing this video first.)
Thank You, Dad, for Your Service.
My father was a reluctant soldier, drafted into the Army to participate in the Vietnam War. He served in a war, as his father did. I called him early this morning and thanked him for his service, as I do every Veterans Day. For me, that conversation is the best part of the holiday, even better than the empty freeways.
"I may only scrape a livin', at least it's a livin' worth scrapin'."
I was surprised as to how much I was inspired from this near-perfect short film about a surfing photographer/filmmaker. Watch, and enjoy the best 6 minute of your day.
Thanks to one of my favorite filmmakers, Anders Lindwall, for thinking enough of me to tell me about this film.
Pliny the Elder
UPDATE: Pliny the Elder is good. Hoppy, fruity, and 8% alc. by vol. :) At $4.49 for 1 pint 9oz, not sure I'll drink too many, but if the opportunity arrises, take the chance to taste one.
iPhone Ring Tone: Double Rainbow...Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!
Brett Barry of The Treasures made this iPhone ring tone based on the Double Rainbow guy on YouTube. Thanks for the laughs, Brett!
Wilco Performs "Bull Black Nova"
One of my favorite tracks off Wilco's last release. Enjoy yourself.
PS: Thanks to Brett Barry of The Treasures for passing this video on to me.Dancing Olivia
"A Is for Apple, B Is for Butt. . ."
My favorite line is for the letter "G". What's yours?
