How We Can Really Be With the Risen Christ at Work Today

We've been talking about keeping the Risen Christ with us at work. Here's something from a great saint we all know that might set us up first thing each morning to do just that. It's called  The Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick. While it is attributed to the saint directly, one theory has it that it was composed by person(s) unknown a few centuries after the saint's death. Either way, it can serve us well as we pursue our intention of staying close to the Risen Christ, even in the midst of our busy days at work.

It's a long prayer, so we'll take it section by section and allow it to sink in as prepare for our work day.

We begin the moment we rise from sleep aknowledging God, the Holy Trinity,

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.

Do we so recognize Him immediately? Or does our mind begin racing with thoughts of ourself?

Related to work, a "personal development" book once read advised focusing on goals immediately upon awakening. To think that this seemed serious at the time!

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.

We want to do our part to be ready to face not only a full schedule of work today, but to face our daily struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Doing our part in this through prayer and an ordered life is good. But we must acknowledge the true source of our strength.

As we begin our Morning Routine let's recall this true source of our strength. And let's go one step further and see all the "assistants" we have that God has provided to keep us recollected and ready to face your day's labor.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men

Armed now with the strength that only God can provide to us, we turn to face this world. And while we understand that this world is only temporary way station in our journey to Heaven, we nevertheless can see it as God's Creation, and as such, a further source of inspiration and strength for us

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

More from St. Patrick to help us be with the Risen Christ next time...

Happy Easter!