Although he was not particularly noted as a man of learning, a few of his writings remain extant: his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters. The Lorica ("Saint Patrick's Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick, may date to a later period.
"The Confession" was written in Latin by Patrick a few years before his death and provides a remarkable insight into Patrick's own interpretation of his mission and life, as well as an indication of his humility and sincerity. He calls himself an unworthy sinner who has faced death, ridicule and persecution, trusts entirely in God and rejoices in the life he has been given.
"Ego Patricius peccator rusticissimus et minimus omnium fidelium et contemptiibliis sum apud plurimos."
I am the sinner Patrick, most unlearned of people, the least of all the faithful and utterly despised by many. I was taken into captivity in Ireland - at that time I was ignorant of the true God - along with many thousand others. This was our punishment for departing from God, abandoning his commandments, and ignoring our priests who kept on warning us about our salvation. . . "
Patrick does not go into detail about his work in Ireland. He says "it would be tedious to give a detailed account of all my labours or even part of them". It is clear he met with many different hardships in Ireland. He thanked God who rescued him twelve times when his life was in danger, and goes on to say: "I came to the Irish heathens to preach the Good News and to put up with insults from unbelievers; I heard my mission abused, I endured many persecutions even to the extent of chains; I gave up my free born status for the good of others".
Patrick concluded his Confession with a prayer for perserverance: "I ask God for perserverance, to grant that I remain a faithful witness to him until my passing from this life... I pray those who believe and fear God, whosoever deigns to look at or receive this writing which Patrick, a sinner, unlearned has composed in Ireland, that no one should ever say that it was my ignorance if I did or showed forth anything however small according to God's good pleasure; but let this be your conclusion and let it be thought that - as is the perfect truth - it was the gift of God".
SAINT PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE is supposed to be the prayer that Patrick said every day to invoke God's protection and guidance and to remind himself of his own place in God's plans. This is a small but very well known part of this prayer.
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. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the threeness, Through confession of the oneness, Of the Creator of Creation.
