"Breastplate" is a weird name for a prayer, but it makes sense. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul speaks of the "armor of God." Specifically, he writes, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:14-16)
Early christians took Paul's words as allegories for spiritual tools, even to the point that there are vesting prayers for the Priest's vestments that link each item with a part of Paul's armor!
One famous allegory is St. Patrick's Breastplate, and we've used it many times this Pandemic season as an introduction to our evening Complines. You know it as the hymn "I bind unto myself today." St. Patrick would pray these words to the Trinity as he arose each day as a "binding" prayer to "put on the armor of God." The centerpiece of that prayer is the calling of the presence of Christ (Verses 5 & 6 of the hymn):
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me.
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ in beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all the love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
For a sense of the universal natural of Christianity, check out this video of an Anglican chamber group in Singapore in June, 2020 singing the words of a 4th century Irish bishop!
I have prayed these words nearly every day for 37 years, and I have it as a laminated prayer card I use as a bookmark for Compline in the Prayer Book. I often invite people to pray this with me before Compline on Facebook Live as we settle into a prayerful place.
As we continue to live in these times and learn to find the presence of God in new ways, know that God is with you in everything you do. When you are feeling isolated, anxious, or at a loss, pray those words. When we get back together again, which we will start very soon, keep that prayer with you. It is not just for the hard times. Christ rejoices with us in our joy as well and is right there with us in our celebration.
Blessings to you all!
Dirk+
Putting on the Armor of God