By Tina Teng-Henson

(Continued from Part 5–>)

I paused in that moment, and a car alarm went off for about 5 seconds. That felt like a response. After it quieted down, I said a few more words of blessing and care and encouragement to go home to the Father. And then I paused again, and the car alarm sounded again, but for slightly less time. And then I prayed again, and then it felt like the work there was done.

L followed us into the staff room across the way after that – the spacious space that no one felt comfortable using, and we gathered standing, around one of the tables. I directed her to read part of St. Patrick’s Breastplate – and told her that we’d each read a portion. She was glad to do it, and read ⅓ of the page: 

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. 

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. 

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.

Then I did ⅓ of the page – praying it with authority, confidence, and strength – seeking to bring the power and the presence of Christ within us into that moment. 

 I arise today, through The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The 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 shield to protect me, God’s host to save me 

From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. 

And then I had Rubin finish off the last portion. 

I summon today All these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul; Christ to shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me an abundance of reward. 

Then we prayed in unison together:

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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

It felt so good to do that. I love the story of St. Patrick and this prayer of St. Patrick.

And then it was about time to go, so we wrapped up – thanking L – and letting her know that we hoped everything was efficacious. I asked her if she wanted the second Bible I had brought from my spiritual director, and she did. 

I told her we’d do the outside of the building before leaving, and so we did after she warmly bade us goodbye from the side door. 

We circled half the outside of the building – I anointed the brick trim with the sign of the cross, acknowledging that this building had seen many things over the course of 22+ years – and then anointing the brass numbers on the front of the building. 1, 6. The cross, the cross. 

Then Rubin and I took a picture together at the front of the building – on his phone. Hopefully he sends me that picture at some point. 

I thanked him so much for his time and gave him a big bear hug, wishing him well on the rest of his day. I knew I’d see him the next day for his daughter’s birthday dinner, and we’d get to debrief some more together. 

I’m so grateful that he was willing to partner up with me. To come and bear witness. To come and participate. To help me read, to help sing, to be present. To bring the presence of Christ into this building and into this space, and into this moment in time. (To be continued…)

Tina Teng-Henson serves as a spiritual director and hospice chaplain. As a wife and mother of three, she occasionally guest-preaches and teaches. When she’s not volunteering at her children’s schools, she plays volleyball, reads, and writes.