Tuesday of the Fourth week in Lent
Memorial of St Patrick
Luke 5:1-11
“Do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching men.”
Now it happened that, when the crowds pressed toward him, so that they might hear the word of God, he was standing beside the lake of Genesaret. And he saw two boats standing beside the lake. But the fishermen had climbed down, and they were washing their nets. And so, climbing into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, he asked him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting down, he taught the crowds from the boat.
Then, when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Lead us into deep water, and release your nets for a catch.” And in response, Simon said to him: “Teacher, working throughout the night, we caught nothing. But on your word, I will release the net.”
And when they had done this, they enclosed such a copious multitude of fish that their net was rupturing. And they signalled to their associates, who were in the other boat, so that they would come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were nearly submerged.
But when Simon Peter had seen this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment had enveloped him, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish that they had taken.
Now the same was true of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were associates of Simon. And Jesus said to Simon: “Do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching men.”
And having led their boats to land, leaving behind everything, they followed him.
What do the Fathers say?
St Patrick’s Breastplate – This is a prayer attributed to St Patrick – a “breastplate” (or lorica) was a type of prayer in the early Irish church intended for spiritual protection.
I arise today, Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness.
Through confession of the Oneness
Towards the creator. I arise today,
Through the strength of Christ 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 Judgement of doom.
I arise today,
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience to the Angels,
In the service of the Archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of Holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men. I arise today,
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun Brilliance 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 host to secure me,
against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
I summon today all these powers, between me and these evils:
Against every cruel and merciless power, that may oppose my body and my soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of heathenry,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul.
Christ to protect me today against poison,
against burning,
against drowning,
against wounding,
so that there may come 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 where I lie,
Christ where I sit,
Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man 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 Thrones,
Through confession of the Oneness
Towards the Creator.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ.
May thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Amen.