Prayer of a Soldier
A prayer from the perspective of a soldier or deployed service member — for courage, clarity, and the grace to return home whole in body and soul.
The Prayer of a Soldier is prayed from the perspective of a deployed service member, asking for courage, clarity and the grace to return home whole in body and soul. It acknowledges fear and duty together. Saints such as St. Sebastian and St. Michael are patrons of soldiers. Families can also pray it for those who serve. It is brief enough to memorise. Many service members carry a small cross, a rosary or a St. Michael medal. Families pray it for them, and chaplains often lead it before missions.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayPrayer of a Soldier
Lord God,
I am far from home.
I am doing work that is hard and sometimes frightening,
in places You see even when no one else does.
I am tired. I am uncertain.
And I carry things that are difficult to carry alone.
Keep me safe, Lord —
not only in body, but in soul.
Keep my conscience clear.
Keep me from becoming hardened to what should be felt.
Keep me from the despair that comes in long, dark hours.
I ask the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel —
commander of the heavenly host,
defender of those who fight —
to stand with me and my brothers and sisters in arms.
Bring me home.
But more than safety, give me meaning —
help me to know that this sacrifice is not wasted,
that the love behind it matters,
that the people I protect are worth protecting.
And when I cannot pray with words,
may my weariness itself be a prayer.
May the longing for home be an offering.
May the love I carry for those I have left behind
keep my heart alive until I return.
Through Christ, who was also far from home
and who made even exile holy.
Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the Prayer of a Soldier?
Pray it before duty, on deployment and when you return.
How do I pray the Prayer of a Soldier?
Read it slowly, name your fears and your fellow soldiers, and ask for peace.
Who is the Prayer of a Soldier for?
Soldiers, veterans, chaplains and military families.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play