Prayer for Safe Travel: Catholic Prayers for the Road

Short Version

Before a Flight

Father, I am about to leave the ground, and I give You my fear along with my luggage. Be with the pilots, the crew and every passenger on this plane. Quiet my heart during takeoff and turbulence, and let me rest in the knowledge that I am held by You, wherever I am. Bring us down gently and safely. Amen.

For a Road Trip or Daily Drive

Lord Jesus, bless this car and everyone in it. Keep my hands steady and my eyes awake. Protect us from accidents and from the carelessness of other drivers, and keep me from hurry and anger. Be our companion on the road, and bring us safely to where we are going. Amen.

For a Loved One Who Is Traveling

Heavenly Father, someone I love is on the road today. I cannot go with them, so I ask You to. Guard them from harm, give them rest when they are weary, and bring them to their destination safely. Keep my heart at peace while I wait to hear that they have arrived. Amen.

How and When to Pray for Safe Travel

Catholics have asked God's blessing on journeys for a very long time, and the Church has used blessings for travelers in its liturgical books. Many families pray before leaving home, often with the Sign of the Cross, and ask the help of their guardian angel and of saints who are loved as patrons of travelers, such as Saint Christopher and Saint Raphael the Archangel.

When to pray it: just before you leave the house, when you buckle your seat belt or board, and again on arrival with a short word of thanks. If you are not the one traveling, you can pray it at the moment a loved one sets out.

Praying with children: keep it brief. A simple Sign of the Cross, one short prayer, and a Hail Mary is enough to make the habit stick.

The prayer is not a charm. It does not promise that nothing will go wrong. It places the journey, and our worries about it, in God's care, and asks for the grace to meet whatever comes with trust.

Scripture to Pray With

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:8 (KJV)

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:11 (KJV)

Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Exodus 23:20 (KJV)

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139:9-10 (KJV)

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good prayer for safe travel?

A simple one is enough: ask God to keep you safe, to send His angels with you, and to bring you home in peace. The short version above can be said in under ten seconds.

Which saint is the patron of travelers?

Saint Christopher is the saint most often invoked by travelers, and many Catholics also pray to Saint Raphael the Archangel and their guardian angel before a journey.

Is there a Bible verse for safe travel?

Psalm 121:8 is a favorite: "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." (KJV)

How do I pray for someone who is traveling?

Pray for them by name when they leave and while they are on the road, asking for protection and a safe arrival. It also helps to say a short prayer of thanks once they reach their destination.