Scripture Behind St. Patrick's Lorica

At our fellowship meeting, we were given the Scripture passage behind the power and strength of St. Patrick’s breastplate or lorica.

Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11: 18 NKJV

It is clear to see the affirmation, supplication, dedication, and adoration of this saint, for the Lord God and His Word. We know that the Word of God is God Himself. It is the Word made flesh, in Jesus Christ, who came to earth, a human being: -

In humanity - Born of the Virgin Mary,

In poverty – He had no place to lay His head.

In humility – He was called glutton, wine-bibber and friend of sinners.

In obscurity – He had no comeliness to attract us to Him. 

In sympathy – He was numbered with the transgressors.

In unity – He was baptized in water, breathed on by the Spirit and blessed by the Father. 

When God, through His servant Moses, gave specific instructions for His children, about His spoken words, was this not for all time? Saint Patrick, by faith, knew this and we too, by faith, should also know it. The words of God are life, freedom, protection and unending peace.

Before visiting this prayer of Saint Patrick, what faith-building, soul-quickening, heart-cleansing and spirit-renewing treasures are we being offered in the Bible text? Here are three things which we have been instructed to do, with the words of God.

Lay Them Up – We are to lay up God’s words in our hearts and souls. His words, in our heart and in the soul, is where they are not just personal and intimate, but they are right there guarding us, that we may not offend God. In the words of the psalmist, we too can boldly pray this prayer to God. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119: 11. 

Bind Them Up – We are to bind up God’s words as a sign on our hands. Long ago, in Old Testament days, the hands and fingers of both men and women, were adorned with all sorts of things. God is telling His people to wear His words on their hands, so that they will not just see them daily, but their hands will work according to His open, exposed words. In wisdom and understanding, we will follow the advice of the wise one, who schools us with this action-response to the words of God. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 7: 3 

Show Them Up - We are to wear them as frontlets, most visibly hanging down on our foreheads, between our eyes. In many oriental countries and some African cultures, women wear adorned frontlets which come in various sizes, colours and shapes, as visible marks or seals which show their tribal or ancestral heritage. Frontlets are also found in Churches, on the altar, where crosses are most visibly woven or elaborately embroidered on the front.

I found this to be bindingly sacred, as a connection was made between Church and the children of God. The word of God was to be visibly binding in sign and spirit. The Church of our Lord, is the people of our Lord and as the words of God were to be visible on the lips, and in the lives of all God’s people, so too with the Church. The cloth or frontlet, adorning the altar is both sign and symbol of the Power and Presence of God, the Living Word, dwelling with His people.

When God spoke to His people to celebrate redemption, Redeem every firstborn among your sons, Exodus 13: 13b, this was the explanation they were to give to their children, who inquired about what they were seeing. They were to tell the Mighty, Magnificent, Miraculous story of God’s redemption of His people. When we, the Church, offer praises and thanks to God, as with our lips and in our lives, we honour and show up the Cross of Christ, so all will know of the Mightiness of our God. And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Exodus 13: 16

This is personal. As we prepare to be led by St. Patrick in his invocation, this prayer, binding his Lord to him, and he to his Lord, will you make this your decision? This is your personal decision, your uncomplicated, unhindered, uncompromising and undeniable covenant to God to, lay up these words of His in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

God never, ever fails to reward, confirm and show up, every single person in Him, who believes, reservation-less.

May God the Holy Spirit, help us on our way. Amen!

One point of meditation here is that God is always ready and willing to convincingly confirm His obeyed Word in all who love and serve Him. They will stand firm in Him, against any enemy.