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.
EXTENDED GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER:
O Holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of me, you who have assisted me from the first moment of my life, and who will continue to assist me until my last breath:
Enlighten my mind, that I may know and understand the will of God for me. Guard my soul from the snares and temptations of the evil one. Direct my steps along the path of righteousness and away from every occasion of sin.
In moments of darkness, be my light.
In moments of fear, be my shield.
In moments of temptation, be my strength.
In moments of doubt, be my guide.
Holy Guardian Angel, stand between me and the forces of evil. Defend me from every spiritual attack. Alert me to danger that I cannot see. Protect me while I sleep.
I thank God for placing you at my side. I trust in your protection and guidance. Together, with the help of God's grace, may we arrive safely at our heavenly home. Amen.
Catholic Prayers for Protection
The Church’s prayers of spiritual defense — for the night, the home, the family, and the moment of attack.
From the Church’s tradition: From the Church’s tradition of spiritual protection: the Guardian Angel prayer, St. Patrick’s Breastplate, Psalm 91, and the St. Michael Prayer of Pope Leo XIII.
The Catholic Church has never been naive about evil — and has never been afraid of it. Her tradition carries a whole armory of protection prayers: psalms prayed at nightfall for three thousand years, the Guardian Angel prayer taught to every Catholic child, the breastplate prayer of St. Patrick, and the St. Michael Prayer of Pope Leo XIII.
This page gathers the Church’s core prayers for protection, with narrated audio and a prayer card to keep with you. Start with the Guardian Angel prayer and St. Patrick’s Breastplate below, then find the right prayer for your need — night, home, family, work, or the moment of spiritual attack.
Listen — Guardian Angel Prayer, narrated
The Guardian Angel Prayer
The Church teaches that each soul has an angel "to light and guard, to rule and guide" (cf. Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10).
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
The ancient lorica (breastplate) prayer attributed to St. Patrick — Christ invoked as armor on every side.
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 the 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.
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 everyone 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.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." — Deuteronomy 33:27
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us. Amen.
Keep this prayer with you
Download the Guardian Angel Prayer card
A prayer card you can save to your phone, print for your wall, or send to someone who needs it tonight.
Free download. The app reads it aloud with you, every day.
How Catholics pray for protection
Catholic protection prayer rests on two convictions held together. First: the danger is real. Scripture speaks plainly of an enemy who "as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8), and the Church takes her own teaching seriously. Second: the victory is already Christ’s. Every Catholic protection prayer is prayed from under His authority, not from our own strength.
That is why these prayers all share the same grammar. They ask God — they never bargain with or address the enemy. They invoke the help God has appointed: the holy angels, the saints, the Blessed Mother. And they are prayed with the sacraments, not instead of them: regular confession and the Eucharist are the Church’s first protection, and every prayer on this page flows from that life.
If you are experiencing something that frightens you beyond ordinary temptation — persistent, oppressive, or strange — pray these prayers, stay close to the sacraments, and speak with your parish priest. That is not a failure of faith; it is exactly the order the Church herself follows.
When to pray it
- ✦Every morning — the Guardian Angel prayer and a sealing prayer for the day.
- ✦Every night — Psalm 91 and a night protection prayer over your household.
- ✦Over your home — a home blessing with holy water.
- ✦In the moment of attack — the St. Michael Prayer.
At night
Over your home
Over your family & children
At work & on the road
Under spiritual attack
Questions about Guardian Angel Prayer
What is the most powerful Catholic prayer for protection?+
The Church does not rank prayers by power — the power is God’s, and He answers faith, not formulas. That said, the prayers Catholics have reached for first across the centuries are Psalm 91, the St. Michael Prayer, and the Guardian Angel prayer, prayed from a life close to the sacraments.
How do I pray for protection at night?+
A simple household pattern: Psalm 91 aloud, a night protection prayer, and the Guardian Angel prayer for each member of the family. Many families add holy water and end with an Our Father. The Church’s own night prayer (Compline) ends every day this way.
Can I bless my own home?+
Yes — parents and householders can and should pray blessing prayers over their home, and may use holy water. For the formal Rite of Blessing of a home, invite your parish priest, especially when moving in or after serious trouble.
What should I do if I feel under spiritual attack?+
Pray — the St. Michael Prayer and Psalm 91 are the Church’s first responses — and strengthen the ordinary means: confession, the Eucharist, and daily prayer. If something persists beyond ordinary temptation or frightens you, speak with your parish priest. The Church handles serious cases through her priests, and no lay person should face that alone.
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