Prayer for Protection: 20 Catholic Prayers for You, Your Family and Home
For the morning commute, the children's bedroom, the long drive, the night shift and the battle no one else can see
A Catholic prayer for protection asks God, through Christ, His angels and His saints, to guard your body and above all your soul from harm, sin and the snares of the devil. The great Catholic prayers of protection are the St Michael prayer, St Patrick's Breastplate, the Guardian Angel prayer, Psalm 91 and the ancient Marian prayer Sub Tuum Praesidium, and every one of them is on this page. This collection gives 20 complete prayers for protection, organised by need: for yourself, your family, your children, your home, your travels, your nights and the spiritual battle.
Here is the hard thing first: the devil is real, he is patient, and he prowls "like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Here is the better thing: Christ has already defeated him, and every baptised Christian fights under His banner. A soul that prays every day is a hard target. A soul that never prays is an open door. Do not leave the door open another night. No one knows the day or the hour (Mark 13:32). Pray the first prayer below now.
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1. The Great Catholic Prayers of Protection
The three great prayers of protection in the Catholic tradition are the St Michael prayer, Psalm 91 and St Patrick's Breastplate. One comes from a pope, one from the Psalter Jesus prayed, and one from the Irish Church. Learn at least one of them by heart this month. These are the prayers to have in your mouth when fear comes at you in the dark.
1. Prayer to St Michael the Archangel
St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Traditional Catholic prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in the 1880s and prayed after Low Mass for decades. In 2018 Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray it daily. Read its history and the longer form in our page on the St Michael prayer, and meet St Michael the Archangel.
2. Psalm 91: The Psalm of Protection
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:1-2, 4-5, 11 (RSV). The Church prays this psalm at Night Prayer on Sundays. The devil quoted verse 11 to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:6), and Jesus answered, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." Pray it in humble trust.
3. St Patrick's Breastplate (Excerpt)
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 host to save me from snares of devils, from temptations of vices, from everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in multitude.
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.
Traditional Irish prayer, also called the Lorica (Latin for "breastplate"), in a common English translation. Tradition attributes it to St Patrick (5th century); most scholars date the Old Irish text to the 7th or 8th century. Either way it has armed Irish Christians for well over a thousand years.
2. Prayers to Your Guardian Angel
Every person has a guardian angel. Jesus said of children, "their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 18:10), and the Catechism teaches that "from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession" (CCC 336). Your angel has been beside you since the day you were born. Most adults have not spoken to theirs since they were six. Start again today.
4. Angel of God (The Guardian Angel Prayer)
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Traditional Catholic prayer, taught to children for centuries and worth praying every morning of an adult life. The Church keeps the feast of the Guardian Angels on 2 October.
5. Morning Prayer to My Guardian Angel
My holy guardian angel, God gave you to me before I could know you. Thank you for every danger you turned away that I never saw. Go before me today. Keep my body safe on the road and at work, and keep my soul safer still. When temptation comes, remind me who I am. When I am about to say something cruel, stop my tongue. Bring me home tonight, and bring me home to God at the end. Amen.
"For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11). Original prayer for this collection.
For what Scripture and the Church actually teach about angels, including what they are not, read our guide to angels in Catholic teaching.
3. Prayers for Mary's Protection
Christians have fled to Mary's protection for at least sixteen centuries. The oldest known prayer to her, the Sub Tuum Praesidium, survives on an Egyptian papyrus usually dated to the third or fourth century, and it is a prayer for protection. Mary is the woman whose offspring crushes the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15), and the Church has always seen her as a mother who shelters her children.
6. Sub Tuum Praesidium (We Fly to Thy Protection)
We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Traditional Marian prayer, the oldest known prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, prayed in Catholic, Orthodox and Coptic churches to this day.
7. Prayer Under Mary's Mantle
Mary, my mother, spread your mantle over me and over everyone I love. Hide us from the enemy who hates your Son. Keep my children close to you, as you kept Jesus close on the road to Egypt. When I am afraid, let me run to you as a child runs to its mother, and take me straight to Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Original prayer ending with the second half of the Hail Mary. "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed." (Genesis 3:15)
The Rosary is the Church's great Marian weapon; our guide to praying the Rosary shows you how to pray it step by step.
Protection is built one prayer at a time, every day
One prayer read once fades. A family that prays every morning and every night builds a wall. Pro helps you build it: audio-guided prayer sessions for protection, anxiety and healing, calming audio devotionals for the school run and the drive home, worship playlists, in-depth Bible studies and a circle of believers to pray with. Is it worth it? Why only $49 once when the big prayer apps charge $59.95 to $100 a year? It is all digital, made once and shared with every member, with no office or agency to pay for. We are rooting for you. Try it for 30 days; if it does not help you pray, get every cent back.
Get Pro. $49 once. $49 one-time. Lifetime access, no subscription. 30-day money-back guarantee.4. Prayers for the Protection of Family and Children
A prayer for the protection of your family is the first duty of every Christian parent and spouse. Job rose early every morning and offered sacrifices for each of his children by name (Job 1:5), and the devil complained that God had put "a hedge about him and his house" (Job 1:10). Build that hedge. Pray these by name, every day, and bless your children out loud before they leave the house.
8. Prayer for the Protection of My Family
Lord Jesus, I place my family under the protection of Your Precious Blood: [names]. Guard our bodies from accident and illness, our minds from lies and despair, and our souls from sin. Protect our marriage from everything that would divide it. Keep our home a place of peace. Where we are weak, be our strength; where we have opened doors to evil, close them; where we have wandered, bring us home. Holy Family of Nazareth, watch over us. Amen.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
9. Prayer to St Joseph, Protector of the Family
St Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, you rose in the night and took the Child and His mother to safety when Herod wanted Him dead. You obeyed at once. Guard my family as you guarded yours. Teach me to act quickly when danger comes and to work faithfully when it does not. Protect our home, our work and our children. Terror of demons, pray for us. Amen.
"Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt." (Matthew 2:13). "Terror of demons" and "Protector of Holy Church" are titles of St Joseph in the Litany of St Joseph. Original prayer. Meet St Joseph.
10. Prayer for My Children's Protection
Father, my children are Yours before they are mine. Protect them today at school, online, on the road and with their friends. Guard their eyes from what would wound them and their hearts from people who would use them. Give them the courage to say no and the honesty to tell me when something is wrong. Send their guardian angels ahead of them. When I cannot be with them, be with them. Amen.
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father." (Matthew 18:10)
11. The Priestly Blessing (For Parents to Pray Over Children)
The LORD bless you and keep you: the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (RSV), the blessing God gave Aaron for His people. Many Catholic parents pray it while tracing a small cross on a child's forehead with their thumb, at the door or at bedtime.
More prayers for little ones are in our collection of prayers for children. If anyone in your family is in physical danger at home, safety comes before everything: in the US call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-7233; in the UK call 999 or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. The Church never asks anyone to stay in danger.
5. Prayers for the Protection of Your Home
Catholics have prayed protection over their homes for centuries, and the Church has given a prayer for it in her own Night Prayer. You can bless your home as a family with these prayers and holy water, and ask a priest to come and bless it formally; the Church's Book of Blessings has a rite for it, and many parishes bless homes at Epiphany, marking the door with chalk.
12. Visit, We Beseech Thee, O Lord
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace; and let thy blessing be upon us always. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Traditional Catholic prayer from Compline, the Church's Night Prayer, in a traditional English translation. Pray it at the front door before bed.
13. Prayer to Bless a New Home
Lord Jesus, You entered the homes of Peter, Zacchaeus, and Martha and Mary, and You brought salvation with You. Come into this home. Bless every room: the kitchen where we eat, the bedrooms where we rest, the door where we come and go. Let nothing enter here that offends You. Let every guest find welcome and every quarrel find an end before sunset. Let this house be Yours. Amen.
"Today salvation has come to this house." (Luke 19:9). Original prayer.
6. Prayers for Safe Travel
Catholics pray before every journey because the road is one of the most dangerous places most of us go each day. The Book of Tobit is the Bible's great travel story: the archangel Raphael walked the whole road beside young Tobias and brought him safely home (Tobit 5 to 11). St Christopher, whose name means "Christ-bearer," is the traditional patron of travellers; his feast was moved off the universal calendar in 1969 because so little is known of his life, and he remains a saint whom Catholics may freely honour.
14. A Traveller's Prayer
Lord, I am setting out today. Go with me on every mile, as You sent Raphael with Tobias. Keep me alert at the wheel, patient in the queue and calm when the journey goes wrong. Protect everyone else on the road with me. Bring me safely to where I am going and safely home again. St Raphael, guide of travellers, walk beside me. St Christopher, pray for us. Amen.
"The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore." (Psalm 121:8). Original prayer. Read about St Raphael and St Christopher.
15. Prayer Before Driving
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I put this car and everyone in it into Your hands. Keep my eyes on the road and off my phone. Give me patience with other drivers and the humility to slow down. My guardian angel, ride with me. Amen.
Original prayer. Say it with the Sign of the Cross before you turn the key.
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7. Prayers for Protection From Evil
Prayer for protection from evil is a normal part of Catholic life; Jesus taught it in the Our Father: "deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). St Paul tells you to put on "the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). The great weapons are ordinary: the sacraments, Scripture, the Name of Jesus, the Rosary and a clean conscience. Our guide to spiritual warfare explains the whole battle plan.
16. Prayer for Protection From Evil
Lord Jesus Christ, You cast out demons with a word, and on the Cross You disarmed the powers of darkness. I belong to You by baptism. I renounce Satan, all his works and all his empty promises. Cover me, my family and my home with Your Precious Blood. Break every hold the enemy has on my life through my sins, and lead me to confession to close every door I have opened. Surround us with Your holy angels. Deliver us from evil. Amen.
"He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him." (Colossians 2:15). Original prayer that echoes the baptismal renunciation of Satan.
17. Short Prayers Against Evil
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, deliver us from evil.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus, protect us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
St Michael the Archangel, defend us.
Traditional Catholic invocations. The Sign of the Cross, made slowly and with faith, is the oldest Christian prayer of protection.
If you think you are facing something beyond ordinary temptation, do not try to handle it alone or with videos online. Go to confession, then speak to your parish priest, who can involve the diocese if needed. Many experiences people fear are spiritual turn out to have medical or psychological causes, so see your doctor as well; the Church asks for exactly that before any exorcism. Our guide to casting out demons and deliverance explains how the Church handles it, and keeps clear of the Hollywood version.
8. Night Prayers for Protection
The night is when fear grows loudest, and the Church has prayed for protection at bedtime since the first monasteries. End every day with one of these. A family that prays together at night ends each day in God's hands.
18. Protect Us, Lord (Night Prayer Antiphon)
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.
The antiphon for the Canticle of Simeon at Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed by priests, religious and lay people around the world every night.
19. Bedtime Prayer for Protection
Lord, the day is over. Forgive me for what I did wrong in it, and thank You for every good thing. I lay down my worries at Your feet: [name them]. Guard this house tonight. Keep away bad dreams, anxious thoughts and every evil. Watch over the people I love, wherever they sleep. Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Amen.
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)
20. Prayer for a Loved One in Danger
Lord, [name] is in danger tonight: [on deployment, on the night shift, in a hospital, in a hard place, far from home]. I cannot protect [him/her]. You can. Keep [him/her] from harm, steady [his/her] hands and clear [his/her] mind. Send Your angels to stand guard. And if the worst should come, let [him/her] be ready to meet You, and hold us all in Your mercy. Amen.
"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life." (Psalm 121:7). Original prayer for soldiers, police officers, firefighters, healthcare workers and anyone in harm's way.
If fear keeps you awake night after night, it may be anxiety that deserves care as well as prayer. Read our guide to Catholic help for anxiety, and see the crisis lines below if you ever feel unsafe.
Pray protection over your family tonight, and every night after
The families that stay standing are the ones that pray when nothing is wrong. Pro gives you audio-guided prayer sessions for protection to play at bedtime with your children, audio devotionals with calming music, the full Bible study library, a circle of believers to pray with, and counselling with a qualified therapist when fear takes over (it does not replace medical or clinical care). Will you keep it up? The audio carries the habit when your willpower will not. $49 once, lifetime access, no subscription, 30-day money-back guarantee. No one knows the day or the hour. Start tonight.
Get Pro for $49 One-time payment. No recurring charge. 30-day money-back guarantee.9. What a Prayer for Protection Can and Cannot Do
A prayer for protection puts you and your loved ones into God's hands, and God always hears it. It does not guarantee that nothing bad will happen in this life. Martyrs prayed for protection and were killed; saints prayed and still got sick. Jesus Himself told us what matters most: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28). The deepest protection God gives is protection of the soul, and that is the one prayer He has promised always to answer for those who ask.
Catholics also use sacramentals: holy water, blessed salt, the St Benedict medal, the brown scapular, crucifixes. The Church defines them as sacred signs that, through her prayer, dispose us to receive grace and sanctify ordinary life (CCC 1667). They are powerful because of the Church's prayer and your faith. Treated as lucky charms, they become superstition, which the Church condemns (CCC 2111). Bless yourself with holy water when you come in; do not hang a medal on the mirror and then drive drunk.
Other Christians pray for protection too. Pentecostal and charismatic Protestants often "plead the blood of Jesus" over their families and pray a "hedge of protection," language taken from Job 1:10. Eastern Orthodox Christians pray Psalm 91 (numbered 90 in their Bibles) at Compline and make the sign of the cross constantly. Catholics share the substance of all of this: trust in the blood of Christ, the protection of the angels and the shelter of the Most High.
- In immediate danger, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 000 (Australia).
- US: call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
- UK and Ireland: call Samaritans on 116 123.
- Australia: call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
- Anywhere else: find a free local line at findahelpline.com.
10. A Daily Plan for Protection
The best way to stay protected is a simple daily rule of prayer, kept faithfully, inside the sacramental life of the Church. Start this plan today and keep it for thirty days.
- Wake with the Sign of the Cross and the Guardian Angel prayer. Thirty seconds before your feet hit the floor.
- Pray the St Michael prayer once a day. After the morning prayer or after the Rosary. In October 2018 Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray it daily with the Rosary and the Sub Tuum.
- Bless your children and your spouse before they leave. A thumb-cross on the forehead and Numbers 6:24-26.
- Pray before every journey. The Sign of the Cross and prayer 15 before you start the car.
- Keep holy water at the door. Ask your parish for some, and bless yourself coming in and going out.
- Go to confession monthly. Mortal sin is the one real breach in the wall. Close it fast.
- Go to Mass every Sunday. The Eucharist is the strongest protection a Christian receives. If you have been skipping, our guide to missing Mass will get you back.
- End with Night Prayer. Pray "Visit, we beseech thee" at the door and "Protect us, Lord" in bed.
Thirty days is where habits are made or lost. Pro keeps you on track with audio-guided protection prayers you just press play on, morning and night, plus a circle of believers praying alongside you. Get Pro. $49 once. Why only $49 once when the big prayer apps charge $59.95 to $100 a year? It is all digital, made once and shared with every member, with no office or agency to pay for. We are rooting for you. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Need a prayer for a specific danger? Our free prayer generator writes one for your exact situation. Find the patron saint for your work or travels with the patron saint finder.
You have 20 prayers of protection. Now pray them every day.
The enemy counts on you reading this page once and forgetting it by Friday. Do not give him that. Pro gives you audio-guided prayer sessions for protection, anxiety and healing, calming audio devotionals, the full study library of Bible studies, prayer frameworks and worship playlists, a circle of believers to pray with, and counselling with a qualified therapist. Why only $49 once when the big prayer apps charge $59.95 to $100 a year? It is all digital, made once and shared with every member, with no office or agency to pay for. We are rooting for you. Pro is material and community for daily prayer; protection and every grace come from God, and the sacraments and every prayer on this page are free. No one knows the day or the hour. Start today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most powerful Catholic prayer for protection?
The most powerful Catholic prayer for protection is the Mass, followed by the prayers the Church has used for centuries: the St Michael prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII, Psalm 91, St Patrick's Breastplate, the Guardian Angel prayer and the Sub Tuum Praesidium. Their power comes from God, and a clean conscience through confession matters most.
What is a short prayer for protection?
A short Catholic prayer for protection is "St Michael the Archangel, defend us," or "Most Precious Blood of Jesus, protect us," or the Guardian Angel prayer: "Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."
Did St Patrick write St Patrick's Breastplate?
Tradition attributes St Patrick's Breastplate, also called the Lorica, to St Patrick in the 5th century, but most scholars date the Old Irish text to the 7th or 8th century. It is best described as a traditional Irish prayer in the spirit of St Patrick.
Why is Psalm 91 called the prayer of protection?
Psalm 91 is called the prayer of protection because it promises shelter to those who dwell "in the shelter of the Most High" and says God "will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways." The Church prays it at Sunday Night Prayer. It is a prayer of trust in God and makes no promise that believers will never suffer.
How do I pray for protection over my family?
Pray for each family member by name every morning, entrust them to Jesus, Mary and St Joseph, and bless your children before they leave the house with Numbers 6:24-26. Keep holy water at the door, pray the St Michael prayer daily, and take the whole family to Mass and confession.
Do holy water and medals protect you?
Holy water, blessed medals and other sacramentals are sacred signs that, through the prayer of the Church, prepare us to receive grace (CCC 1667). They help when used with faith and a life of prayer. Treating them as lucky charms is superstition, which the Church rejects (CCC 2111).
Who is the patron saint of protection?
St Michael the Archangel is the great patron of protection against evil. St Joseph is the protector of families and of the whole Church, your guardian angel protects you personally, St Raphael and St Christopher are invoked for safe travel, and St Benedict is invoked against evil through the St Benedict medal.