Prayers For Those Who Serve and Protect
Prayers
- The Police Officer's Prayer to St. Michael
- Our Firefighters and Paramedics
- Prayer for Police
- Military Chaplains
- For Firefighters
- A Warrior's Prayer
- Veterans Day Prayer
- For Veterans of Foreign Wars
- One's Guardian Angel
- Saint Michael the Archangel
- Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd
- In Time of War
- St. Patrick's Breastplate
- Veterans' Center Blessing
See Also
The Policeman's Prayer to St. Michael
St. Michael, heaven's glorious Commissioner of Police,
who once so neatly and successfully cleared God's premises
of all its undesirables, look with kindly and professional
eyes on your earthly force.
Give us cool heads, stout hearts, hard punches, and uncanny flair for
investigation and wise judgment.
Make us the terror of burglars, the friends of children and
law-abiding citizens, kind to strangers, polite to bores,
strict with law-breakers and impervious to temptations.
In troubles and riots give us sheer muscle without temper; at the police count, give us love for truth and evidence without any thought of self.
You know, St. Michael, from your own experiences
with the devil that the policeman's lot on earth is not
always a happy one; but your sense of duty that so
pleased God, your hard knocks that so surprised the
devil, and your angelic self- control give us inspiration. Make us as loyal to the law of God as we are particular about the law of the land.
And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your
heavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard the
throne of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people.
Our Firefighters and Paramedics
Oh Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom
embraces the universe.
Watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers.
Father in Heaven please give them the strength,
courage and perseverance to endure
The unjust condemnation, danger, and physical abuse
to which they are at times subjected.
We recommend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous.
Dear God, grant these brave men your almighty protection,
Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended.
- Author Unknown
Prayer for Police
Oh Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom
embraces the universe.
Watch over all policemen and law enforcement officers.
Father in Heaven please give them the strength,
courage and perseverance to endure
The unjust condemnation, danger, and physical abuse
to which they are at times subjected.
We recommend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous.
Dear God, grant these brave men your almighty protection,
Unite them safely with their families after duty has ended.
- Author Unknown
Military Chaplains
Heavenly Father, bless and protect Military Chaplains and fill them
with the joy and courage of their vocation as personal ministers of
Christ in preaching your word and nourishing us with the Sacraments.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
- Author Unknown
For Firefighters
Dear God, through the intercession of our patron, Saint Florian,
have mercy on the souls of our comrades who
have made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of
their duty, and on all who have gone before us after years
of faithful discharge of their responsibilities which now
rest on ourselves. Give us Grace to prepare each day for
our own summons to Thy tribunal of justice. Into Thy
hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Whithersoever Thou
callest me, I am ready to go. Merciful Father of all men,
save me from all bodily harm, if it be Thy will, but above
all, help me to be loyal and true, respectful and
honorable, obedient and valiant. Thus fortified by virtue, I shall have no fear, for I shall then
belong to Thee and shall never be separated from Thee.
- Author Unknown
A Warrior's Prayer
May I do what is needed, with courage and skill,
be a loyal ally to my fellow soldiers and my country.
Bless me this day and keep me safe from harm,
diminish my fears, grow my courage, heal my spirit.
Bless me as I do my duty today, the best I can,
strengthen me in my mind, body and spirit,
help me to respect my adversary, as a fellow human.
Bless and protect me this day in all I must do.
Veterans Day Prayer
God of peace,
we pray for those who have served our nation
and have laid down their lives
to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought,
whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories
too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now,
especially for those in harm's way.
Shield them from danger
and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds
of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!
May the peace you left us,
the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains,
the peace that saves us.
Christ Jesus, hear us!
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!
- from the Concord Pastor
For Veterans of Foreign Wars
Loving God,
we remember those who have served our nation
and died to protect
and defend our freedom.
Help us never to forget them
and their efforts to keep us safe.
We honor those who were in combat,
and returned home safely.
May they know our thankfulness.
We honor those in the service who supported
our military behind the front lines.
May they know our gratitude.
We pray for those whose bodies and spirits
are ravaged by war,
whose memories cannot forget the
brutality war inflicts upon others,
whose pain is too deep for others to touch.
Help us find ways to reach out
to our brothers and sisters who have returned from war
and are in psychic pain
so they may know they are important to us.
May we come to know their pain
and be in solidarity with them so
they will not take their own lives.
We pray for those who are in combat today.
Shield them from danger
and bring them home safely and soon.
May we all work to end all wars
and establish a lasting peace
that is built on justice, charity, and mutual understanding.
Help us to live in hope
that your kingdom of heaven
can reign here on earth.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
- Author Unknown
One's Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.
- Author Unknown
Saint Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle,
Be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil.
We humbly beseech God to command him,
And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host,
By the divine power thrust into hell Satan
And the other evil spirits who roam through the world
Seeking the ruin of souls.
- Author Unknown
Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff - they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
- Author Unknown
In Time of War
God our Father,
Maker and lover of peace,
To know you is to live,
And to serve you is to reign.
All our faith is in your saving help;
Protect us from men of violence
And keep us safe from weapons of hate.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
- Author Unknown
St. Patrick's Breastplate
May the strength of God guide me this day, and may his power preserve me.
May the wisdom of God instruct me; the eye of God watch over me; the ear of God hear me; the word of God give sweetness to my speech; the hand of God defend me; and may I follow the way of God.
Christ be with me, Christ before me,
Christ be after me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot,
Christ in the ship,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me.
Christ in every eye that sees me.
Christ in every ear that hears me.
- Author Unknown
Veterans' Center Blessing
Loving God,
We ask your blessing upon this new Veterans' Center of our University. May this sacred space be a sign of our gratitude for the young men and women who served us and our nation in the various branches of the Armed Forces. May the welcome,
guidance and support they receive here make their transition from military life to academic life a success intellectually, morally and spiritually, enabling them to live lives for and with others, creating a civilization of love and peace.
We ask this blessing in your name.
- Al Bischoff, S.J.
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