For most of us in today’s world, daily travel for work, church, school, or leisure is a fundamental part of life. We often travel to visit loved ones or to embark on a long-awaited vacation.
Including our dear Lord in every aspect of our lives is essential, and travel is no exception. We can offer both the pleasant and unpleasant parts of our journey to Our Lord, for our own benefit and that of others. Vacation travel allows us to relax and return to our daily responsibilities with renewed vigor and energy.
When we travel, it is natural to pray for a safe trip, that we may reach our destination without any harm and in good health. We can express our own heartfelt words for a secure journey, or we may choose to use travel prayers crafted by others.
Travel is a recurring theme in the Bible, with stories such as Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, Joshua leading them into the Promised Land, and Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. St. Paul also embarked on numerous missionary trips to spread the Gospel.
A fitting Bible passage to reflect on during travel is Psalm 121. While the entire psalm is beautiful to pray, verse 8 holds particular significance: “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.”
St. Raphael the Archangel is the patron saint of travelers, alongside other patron saints such as St. Christopher and St. Anthony of Padua. In the Book of Tobit, we read about how St. Raphael accompanied young Tobit on his long journey, providing assistance along the way.
St. Raphael remains a powerful intercessor for our travel today! Alongside being the patron saint of travelers, St. Raphael is also the patron saint of future spouses, happy meetings, and purity.
When we embark on a journey, we can seek the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Highway, by praying:
“O Lady of the Highway, be with us on our journey, for all your ways are beautiful and all your paths are peace. O God, who governs the world with unspeakable providence, grant us, your servants, through the intercession of our watchful mother, protection from all dangers and a safe arrival at our destination. Amen.”
We can also invoke Our Blessed Mother as Our Lady of the Way. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, had a special devotion to Our Lady under this title. Mary’s intercession guides us throughout our life’s journey towards Heaven, and we seek her assistance on our physical journeys as well!
Now, let us explore two powerful Catholic prayers specifically for travel. May we ask our loving Heavenly Father for protection and assistance, while also seeking the intercession of the great St. Raphael!
Prayer When Leaving the House
“May the almighty and merciful Lord lead us towards peace and prosperity on our journey. May the Angel Raphael be our faithful companion along the way, ensuring our safe return home filled with peace, health, and joy.”
Prayer for Travelers
“O Almighty and merciful God, who has entrusted Your angels to guide and protect us, we implore You to command them to be our constant companions from the moment we set out until we return. Clothe us with their invisible protection, shielding us from all potential dangers, including collisions, fires, explosions, falls, and injuries. Above all, protect us from evil and guide us safely to our heavenly home. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
