5 Catholic Saint Prayers You Should Know
Want to pray like the saints?
The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of prayer, from the Mass to the Rosary to devotions to the saints. But with such an expansive treasury, it can be hard to know where to begin.
The prayers of the saints are a beautiful place to start. These holy men and women faced suffering, temptation, uncertainty, and daily responsibilities, just as we do. Through their prayers, we glimpse how they turned to God with humility and trust.
The Catholic saint prayers below come from holy heroes of the Church whose lives continue to inspire the faithful today. As you read them, consider choosing one to incorporate into your own prayer life.
Why pray to Catholic saints?
The Catholic Church has a long tradition of praying to the saints. For some, this raises an understandable question: Why pray to anyone but God?
The Church encourages Catholics to pray to the saints in addition to—not instead of—praying to God. God alone is worthy of our worship and adoration, and Jesus Himself teaches us to bring our prayers to the Father. When Catholics pray to the saints, we are asking for their prayers and intercession, much like we might ask a friend, family member, or fellow parishioner to pray for us.
The difference is that the saints are already living in perfect communion with God. They have finished the race andkept the faith, and they now intercede for the Church from heaven. In moments of need, Catholics turn to the saints as trusted companions who can pray with us and for us.
Many saints are also known as patrons of particular needs, occupations, or struggles. St. Joseph is the patron saint of workers and families, making him a powerful intercessor for concerns about work or family life. St. Monica is often invoked by parents praying for their children to return to the Faith. St. Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness, and St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer.
In other words, praying to the saints is not an either/or. Catholics do not choose between praying to God and asking the saints for help. We bring our needs to God, and we ask the saints to pray for us along the way.
Could you use some saintly intercession in your own life? Get started with one or more of the beloved saint prayers below.
Prayer of Saint Bonaventure
A prayer to increase in desire and hunger for God, especially in the reception of the Holy Eucharist
St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan, Cardinal, and Doctor of the Church, was born in Italy in 1221. Bonaventure was well known for his teaching, writing, preaching, good character, and ability to help those in conflict reconcile. He was also great friends with St. Thomas Aquinas.
Even with his great intelligence, St. Bonaventure emphasized grace over reason to help himself and others in relationship with God. He had a great love for the Eucharist, which is captured in these words which he wrote as a prayer for after receiving communion.
Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.
Pray this powerful prayer on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
Saint Thérèse Rose Prayer
A prayer asking for this saint’s intercession as well as greater confidence in God’s love
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, often called “the Little Flower,” promised to spend her time in heaven doing good on earth. Though she lived a hidden life, after her death the 24-year-old French Carmelite became a Doctor of the Church and a beloved friend and intercessor for countless Catholics. It is often said that she sends down “showers of roses” to those who ask for her intercession.
O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.
O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands . . .
(mention in silence here)
St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in
God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day.
Amen.
Pray along on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
Prayer for Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
A prayer invoking this saint’s intercession for healing and faithfulness to Christ and his Church
St. Kateri Tekakwitha was a Mohawk woman who converted to Catholicism at age 19. She loved Jesus Christ with great devotion, and she fervently prayed for the conversion of her fellow Mohawks. St. Kateri died of an illness at age 24, and she was canonized in 2012, making her the first Native American to be recognized as a saint.
O Great Lily of the Mohawks, we ask that you take our intentions to the foot of the cross. Ask Jesus to bring healing to those who are heavily burdened. Through your intercession, may this favor be granted if it is according to the will of God. By your prayer, help us always to remain faithful to Jesus and to his Holy Church. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us. Amen.
Pray along on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
Saint Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer
A prayer invoking Christ’s daily strength and protection against evil
St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a prayer attributed to Saint Patrick of Ireland, circa AD 433. This prayer is both a profession of the faith and an invocation for divine protection from evil, as St. Patrick was preaching the Gospel to a nation that was pagan at the time. Poetically written, the prayer reads like a litany, ending with the well-known “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind 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.”
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with 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 the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of 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 shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose 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 witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
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.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Amen.
Pray the entire prayer on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
The Saint Michael Prayer
A prayer asking for the Archangel Michael’s protection against the Devil and evil spirits
St. Michael is the guardian of the Church and a powerful intercessor for anyone facing spiritual attack. Whenever you need protection against the devil, call on St. Michael the Archangel.
Saint 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 through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
You can find this prayer on CatholicTV and on YouTube.
If you want to grow in your devotion to the saints, choose one prayer to begin praying consistently. Over time, you can add other saint prayers for different needs and seasons of life.
Find more prayers and devotions on CatholicTV or on our YouTube channel.