Powerful Protection Prayer

When you are feeling down, weak, hopeless, you can always turn to the Lord and say prayers for protection. Ask for the help of celestial protectors, who will assist you during hard times. In Irish tradition, a Lorica (Latin for “body armour” or “breastplate”) is a powerful invocation prayer for protection: discover two beautiful prayers by St. Patrick and St.Gildas.

The Lorica of St. Patrick for Protection

“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.

I arise today 
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, 
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, 
Through the strength of His resurrection and 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 obedience of angels, 
In service of archangels, 
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, 
In the prayers of patriarchs, 
In preachings of the apostles, 
In faiths of confessors, 
In innocence of virgins, 
In deeds of righteous 

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven; 
Light of the sun, 
Splendor of fire, 
Speed of lightning, 
Swiftness of the wind, 
Depth of the sea, 
Stability of the earth, 
Firmness of the 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 way to lie before me, 
God's shield to protect me, 
God's hosts to save me 
From snares of the devil, 
From temptations of vices, 
From every one who desires me ill, 
Afar and anear, 
Alone or in a multitude. 

I summon today all these powers between me and evil, 
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes 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 women and smiths and wizards, 
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. 

Christ shield me today 
Against poison, against burning, 
Against drowning, against wounding, 
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, 
Christ in the eye that sees me, 
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 
Through a belief in the Threeness, 
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation”

The Lorica of St. Gildas

“Trinity in unity, preserve me.
Unity in Trinity, have mercy on me.

I pray,
preserve me from all dangers which overwhelm me like the waves of the sea,
so that neither mortality nor the vanity of the world may sweep me away this year.

And I also ask,
send the high, mighty hosts of Heaven, that they not abandon me to be destroyed by enemies,
but defend me now with their strong shields and that the heavenly army advance before me: 
Cherubim and Seraphim by the thousands, and Archangels Michael and Gabriel, likewise,
I ask, send these living thrones, principalities and powers and angels, so that I may be strong,
defended against the flood of strong enemies in the next battle.

May Christ, whose terror scares away the foul throngs, make with me a strong covenant.
God the unconquerable guardian, defend me on every side by your power. Free all my limbs, with your safe shield protecting each, so that the fallen demons cannot attack
against my sides or pierce me with their darts.

I pray, Lord Jesus Christ, be my sure armor.
Cover me, therefore, O God, with your strong breastplate.
Cover me all in all with my five senses, so that, from my soles to the top of the head, in no member, without within, may I be sick;
that, from my body, life be not cast out by plague, fever, weakness, suffering, until, with the gift of old age from God, departing from the flesh, be free from stain, and be able to fly to the heights, and, by the mercy of God, be borne in joy to the heavenly cool retreats of His Kingdom.”

Pray to the Saints with Hozana

The saints intercede on your behalf before the Lord. They are your heavenly sisters and brothers, who endured the trials and challenges of life on earth, like you! Discover the many prayer communities on Hozana to pray to the Saints.

Say a novena to St. Rita, the Saint of Impossible Causes, pray to Padre Pio and receive protection from the author of the “efficacious novena”, pray a novena to St. Michael the Archangel for protection, and more!