Prayer for Protection: Catholic Prayers From Evil, for Family, Home and Travel

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Catholics have always asked God for protection: from sin and the devil, from accidents and danger, and for the people and homes they love. Jesus himself taught us to ask, “deliver us from evil.” This page gathers the traditional prayers the Church has used for centuries, all from public-domain prayer books and the Douay-Rheims Bible. They include a prayer for the protection of a family and home, the oldest known prayer to Mary, Psalm 91, St. Paul’s “armor of God,” and prayers for the night and for travel. Short prayers written for this guide follow.

A prayer for the protection of your family and home

Pope Leo XIII attached an indulgence to this prayer in 1889. It asks God to bless and guard a household through Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, the archangels and the guardian angels. Pray it together at the start of the day or at night prayers.

God of goodness and mercy, we commend to Thy all-powerful protection our home, our family, and all that we possess. Bless us all as Thou didst bless the Holy Family of Nazareth.

O Jesus, our most holy Redeemer, by the love with which Thou didst become man in order to save us, by the mercy through which Thou didst die for us upon the cross, we entreat Thee to bless our home, our family, our household. Preserve us from all evil and from the snares of men; preserve us from lightning and hail and fire, from flood, and from the rage of the elements; preserve us from Thy wrath, from the hatred and the evil designs of our enemies, from plague, famine, and war. Let not one of us die without the holy sacraments. Bless us, that we may bravely confess that faith by which we are sanctified, that we may never falter in our hope, even amid pain and affliction, and that we may ever grow in love for Thee and in charity toward our neighbor. O Jesus, bless us, protect us.

O Mary, Mother of grace and mercy, bless us, protect us against the evil spirit; lead us by the hand through this vale of tears; reconcile us with thy divine Son; commend us to Him, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

St. Joseph, reputed father of Our Saviour, guardian of His most holy Mother, head of the Holy Family, intercede for us, bless and protect our home always.

St. Michael, defend us against all the malice of hell.

St. Gabriel, obtain for us that we may ever seek the holy will of God.

St. Raphael, preserve us from ill health and all danger to life.

Holy guardian angels, keep us day and night in the way to salvation.

Holy patrons, pray for us before the throne of God.

Bless this house, Thou, God our Father, Who didst create us; Thou, divine Son, Who didst suffer for us on the cross; Thou, Holy Spirit, Who didst sanctify us in baptism. May God, in His three divine persons, preserve our bodies, purify our souls, direct our hearts, and lead us to life everlasting.

Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost. Amen.

For more prayers for the home and those who live there, see Catholic prayers for family.

The St. Michael prayer and the Chaplet of St. Michael

The best-known Catholic prayer for protection is the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, which asks him to “defend us in battle.” Pope Leo XIII introduced it for the whole Church, and many parishes pray it after Mass. You will find the full text, the Latin and its history on our St. Michael prayer page. For a longer devotion, the Chaplet of St. Michael asks protection and grace through all nine choirs of angels.

We fly to thy patronage (Sub tuum praesidium)

This is the oldest known prayer to the Virgin Mary. A Greek version survives on an Egyptian papyrus usually dated to the third or fourth century. Christians have prayed it in danger ever since.

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O thou ever glorious and blessed Virgin.

Psalm 91: the psalm of protection

Psalm 91 (numbered 90 in the Douay-Rheims and the Latin Vulgate) is the Bible’s great prayer of trust in God’s protection. The Church prays it at Night Prayer (Compline) on Sundays. Its verse about the angels was quoted to Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:6).

The praise of a canticle for David. He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.
He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust.
For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.
He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.
His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.
Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou hast made the most High thy refuge.
There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.
For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.
In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.
Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name.
He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.
I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my salvation.

The armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–17)

St. Paul tells Christians that our real struggle is spiritual, and that God gives us armor for it: truth, justice, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the word of God. Many Catholics read this passage each morning and “put on” each piece in prayer.

Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power.
Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.
Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice,
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:
In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.
And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God).

A night prayer for the protection of your home

This is the closing prayer of the Church’s Night Prayer in the old Roman Breviary. It asks God to drive the enemy away and to let his angels dwell in the house.

Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy: let Thy holy angels dwell herein, to keep us in peace, and may Thy blessing be always upon us. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

At bedtime, children can pray the Guardian Angel prayer. For a full routine, see Catholic night prayers.

A prayer for protection when traveling

Priests once prayed a set of prayers called the Itinerarium before every journey. Father Lasance printed this shorter version for lay people. The Archangel Raphael, who guided Tobias on his journey (Tobit 5), is the patron of travelers.

May the almighty and merciful Lord direct us on our journey; may He make it prosper and maintain us in peace.

May the Archangel Raphael accompany us along the way, and may we return to our homes in peace, joy, and health.

Lord, have mercy on us! Jesus Christ, have mercy on us! Lord, have mercy on us!

O God, Who didst cause the children of Israel to traverse the Red Sea dryshod; Thou Who didst point out by a star to the Magi the road that led them to Thee; grant us, we beseech Thee, a prosperous journey and propitious weather; so that, under the guidance of Thy holy angels, we may safely reach that journey’s end, and later the haven of eternal salvation.

Hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy servants. Bless their journeys. Thou Who art everywhere present, shower everywhere upon them the effects of Thy mercy; so that, insured by Thy protection against all dangers, they may return to offer Thee their thanksgiving. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer in temptation and a short commendation

The Church’s old collect “for the tempted and afflicted” asks God to protect his servants so that “by no temptation” they may be separated from him:

O God, who justifiest the ungodly that repent, and wouldst not the death of a sinner; we humbly entreat thy Majesty to protect thy servants with thy heavenly assistance, who trust in thy mercy, and preserve them by thy continual protection; that they may constantly serve thee, and by no temptation be separated from thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This short act of entrusting yourself to God can be said at any time:

Into the hands of thy unspeakable mercy, O Lord, I commend my soul and body; my senses, my words, my thoughts, and all my actions, with all the necessities of my body and soul; my going forth and coming in; my faith and conversation; the course and end of my life; the day and hour of my death; my rest and resurrection with the saints and elect. Amen.

Short prayers for protection

These prayers were written for this guide.

For someone you love

Lord Jesus, I place N. in your hands today.
Keep him (her) safe in body and soul,
guard him (her) from every danger and every evil,
and bring him (her) home to us in peace. Amen.

Against evil

Lord Jesus Christ, by your Cross you have conquered sin and death.
Protect me from the snares of the devil,
keep me from every temptation I cannot bear,
and let nothing separate me from your love. Amen.

Before driving

Lord, be with me on the road today.
Keep me alert, patient and careful,
protect me and everyone I meet,
and bring us all safely where we are going.
St. Raphael, travel with me. Amen.

For those who protect others

God of mercy, bless police officers, firefighters, soldiers, nurses
and all who put themselves in danger for others.
Shield them as they work, give them courage and good judgment,
and bring them home safely to their families. Amen.

What the Church teaches about protection from evil

  • The devil is real but not all-powerful. The Catechism teaches that Satan’s power “is not infinite. He is only a creature” (CCC 395). In the last petition of the Our Father, evil “refers to a person, Satan,” and we pray to be delivered from him (CCC 2851).
  • Trust drives out fear. “One who entrusts himself to God does not dread the devil” (CCC 2852).
  • The angels guard us. “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession” (CCC 336).
  • Sacramentals help, but they are not charms. Holy water, blessed medals such as the St. Benedict medal, a blessed crucifix and the blessing of a home are sacramentals. They dispose us to receive grace (CCC 1667–1670). Treating them as magic would be superstition (CCC 2111).
  • The strongest protection is grace. Confession, the Eucharist and daily prayer keep us close to Christ, who has already won the victory (CCC 2853).

When you need more than prayer

If you or someone in your home is in physical danger, call emergency services first, then pray. If you are troubled by persistent fear, temptation or what seems like spiritual oppression, speak with a priest. The Church’s rite of exorcism is reserved to priests with the bishop’s permission and is used only after careful discernment (CCC 1673).

Frequently asked questions

What is the most powerful Catholic prayer for protection?

No prayer works by its words alone. The Our Father, with its petition “deliver us from evil,” the St. Michael prayer and the Mass itself are the Church’s great prayers for protection. Pray whichever you can pray with faith, and pray it often.

Can I pray Psalm 91 every day?

Yes. Many Catholics pray it each night, as the Church does at Sunday Compline. It is a prayer of trust, not a guarantee against all suffering.

How do I bless my home for protection?

Ask a priest to bless your home, keep holy water by the door, hang a blessed crucifix, and pray together as a family. On Epiphany many families chalk the door with the year and the initials of the Magi.

Who is the patron saint of protection?

St. Michael the Archangel is the great protector against evil. Catholics also turn to their guardian angels, St. Raphael for travelers, St. Joseph for families, and St. Benedict, whose medal is a sacramental of protection.

More prayers

Texts and sources