Lorica of St. Fursey

Fursey who lived c597-January 16, 649 AD and was also known as Fursa, Fursei, or Furseus was the first recorded Irish missionary to Anglo-Saxon England. He arrived in East Anglia in 633AD with his younger brothers Foillan and Ultan

His Lorica is below. Lorica is an old Latin word meaning prayer of protection. It is also called a breastplate prayer.

The arms of God be around my shoulders,

the touch of the Holy Spirit upon my head,

the sign of Christ’s cross upon my forehead,

the sound of the Holy Spirit in my ears,

the fragrance of the Holy Spirit in my nostrils,

the vision of heaven’s company in my eyes,

the conversation of heaven’s company on my lips,

the work of God’s church in my hands,

the service of God and the neighbour in my feet,

a home for God in my heart, 

and to God, the father of all, my entire being.

 Amen.