Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy

Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy

Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy

Recordings

The Deer’s Cry (St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

“The Deer’s Cry”, attributed to St Patrick, is known by several names: “The Breastplate of St Patrick” and “Lorica” to mention two. It is a beautiful prayer celebrating a God who lives with his children, guiding them, sheltering them, strengthening them. A God who is with us and in us through his Creation. In 1994 Irish composer Shaun Davey put a section of the Breastplate to some wonderful music in his CD “The Pilgrim”. It is wonderfully sung by Rita Connolly.

The lyrics are taken from Kuno Meyo’s translation of the 8th century poem sometimes, but apparently incorrectly, attributed to St. Patrick and alternatively entitled `St. Patrick’s Breastplate’. The opening words in the original Irish, `atom-ruig’ translated here as `I arise’ have also been translated as ‘I gird myself’. This prayer-poem served as a prayer for protection against the perils faced by medieval travellers.