St. George Prayer for Courage, Soldiers and Scouts

St. George, a soldier martyred for Christ in the early fourth century, is one of the most popular saints of East and West: patron of England, Georgia, Catalonia and Portugal, of soldiers and of scouts. The famous legend of George slaying the dragon to rescue a princess has made him a symbol of courage against evil. Below are prayers to St. George for courage, for protection, for soldiers and scouts and in the struggle against temptation, the prayer of his feast, Scripture, the customs of St. George’s Day on April 23, and what we know about his life.

A prayer to St. George

Written for this page:

St. George, soldier of Christ and glorious martyr,
you gave up rank, wealth and life itself rather than deny Jesus.
Pray for me, that I may be brave in faith,
loyal to Christ in every trial,
and ready to defend the weak.
Obtain for me the grace I ask: (name your intention). Amen.

A prayer for courage

St. George, you faced the dragon without fear.
When I am afraid, give me a share of your courage;
when I must do what is right and hard, stand with me;
and help me to trust that the victory belongs to God. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page. See the Catholic prayer for strength.

A prayer against evil and temptation

In Christian art the dragon stands for the devil and for sin. A prayer for the spiritual battle:

St. George, conqueror of the dragon,
help me to fight the dragons within me: pride, anger, lust and fear.
Defend me against every temptation and every snare of the evil one,
and keep me close to Jesus and his Church. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page. See the St. Michael prayer and the Catholic prayer for protection.

A prayer for soldiers and scouts

St. George, patron of soldiers and scouts,
watch over all who serve their country and all young people learning to serve.
Make them honorable, brave and kind,
keep them safe, and teach them to “be prepared” to do God’s will. Amen.

This prayer was written for this page.

The prayer of his feast

The Collect of St. George in the traditional Roman Missal, translated for this page:

O God, who gladden us by the merits and intercession of blessed George, your martyr,
mercifully grant that we who ask your blessings through him
may obtain them by the gift of your grace.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture for St. George

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.

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.

The life and legend of St. George

Very little is known for certain about St. George’s life. Ancient tradition says that he was a soldier from Cappadocia, in present-day Turkey, who served in the Roman army and was martyred at Lydda (Lod, in present-day Israel) around the year 303, during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, after refusing to sacrifice to the gods. His tomb at Lydda became a place of pilgrimage, and churches were dedicated to him across the Christian world. An early list of approved and disapproved books, attributed to Pope Gelasius I (late fifth century), already counted him among the saints whose names are rightly honored but whose deeds are known only to God.

The story of the dragon came later and became famous through the thirteenth-century Golden Legend. In it, a dragon terrorized the city of Silene, demanding human victims. When the lot fell on the king’s daughter, George arrived, wounded the dragon with his lance in the name of Christ, and led it captive into the city, where the king and all his people were baptized.

Crusaders brought devotion to St. George back to Western Europe. In the fourteenth century King Edward III made him the patron of the Order of the Garter, and he became the patron saint of England. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

St. George’s Day customs

England: the red cross of St. George flies on churches and public buildings, and many parishes and scout groups hold parades and services on or near April 23.
Catalonia: on Sant Jordi, people give one another roses and books, and the streets of Barcelona fill with stalls.
Scouts: Scouts around the world renew their promise on St. George’s Day, because the founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, chose George as their patron.

Feast day and patronage

Feast day: April 23. A novena can run from April 14 to 22.
Patron of: England, Georgia, Catalonia, Portugal, Moscow, soldiers, scouts and farmers.
Symbols: armor, a lance, a white banner with a red cross, a white horse, and the dragon.

Frequently asked questions

When is St. George’s Day?

April 23.

Why is St. George the patron saint of England?

Devotion to him grew in England after the Crusades, and in the fourteenth century King Edward III made him the patron of the Order of the Garter. He has been England’s patron saint ever since.

Did St. George really slay a dragon?

The dragon story is a legend from centuries after his death, a picture of the victory of faith over evil. St. George himself was a real martyr of the early Church.

What is St. George the patron saint of?

England, Georgia, Catalonia and Portugal, soldiers, scouts and farmers.

More prayers

Texts and sources

Collect of St. George (April 23), traditional Roman Missal; English translation made for this page.
Scripture: Apocalypse (Revelation) 2:10; Ephesians 6:10–13, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend (thirteenth century), life of St. George.
The other prayers were written for this page.