Rick Lee JamesHealthcare Chaplain, Bon Secours Mercy Health · Husband, Dad, Hospital Chaplain, Recording Artist, Podcast Host, Loyola University IPS Graduate, Alpha Sigma Nu Member, and Recording Academy (GRAMMY®) member - Contributing musician on a Grammy-nomin

Christ Surrounds Us: The Lorica Inspiration #substack #shorts

17 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief monologue, the speaker recites the Lorica prayer—"Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me"—explaining that the prayer functions as a spiritual breastplate, invoking God's protective presence in all directions. The speaker then connects this prayer to the creative process behind the opening track of an album, describing how the desire to convey Christ’s surrounding, guiding presence informed the music’s composition and thematic intent.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me. The prayer is sometimes called a Lorica prayer, meaning a breastplate, a prayer asking God to surround and protect us like armor in the spiritual battles of life. And when I wrote the opening track of the album, I wanted to capture that sense that Christ surrounds us on every side—before us, behind us, within us. And guiding every step we take.