cargopilot:
Does anyone know any good prayers for pilots?
I would like to memorize a collection of prayers for flight. First, one asking for a safe flight, before departure. Another one asking for help when in trouble, while enroute, and one thanking God for a safe arrival. Also, it would be good to have one for that moment when you don’t think you’ll make it out alive.
Has anyone ever heard of such prayers? If not, perhaps prayers for sailors could be adapted for aviators?
I pray these whenever I or loved-ones fly:
Our Lady of the Sky
Holy Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men, thou who on the day of thy glorious Assumption didst rise up to heaven amidst the angels, thou whom we find sweet to invoke under the title of Our Lady of the Sky, protect we pray thee, the wings made by men to which we entrust ourselves when crossing the spaces above plains, mountains and seas. Protect our flight, and may we have a greater realization of God’s love and glory reflected in the beauties of the heavens and the earth. Be thou our help every moment of our aerial journey, preserve us from all perils, and restore us safe and sound to our dear ones. Obtain also for minds and hearts, O Lady of the Sky, the grace to rise towards the things of heaven, and soar above the errors and meanness of this world, far from the darkness and mire of evil, so that we may at the end of our earthly life enter into the everlasting abode of rest and happiness, and enjoy with the the glory of God, with the Angels and Saints, amen.
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Prayer Before Takeoff
God, Who has made all creatures for Thy own glory, and has destined all the things of this world for the service of mankind, bless, we pray Thee, this jet built for air travel, that it may serve, without loss or danger, for spreading even more widely the praise and glory of Thy name, and for the quicker dispatch of the world’s affairs; and may foster in the hearts of those who travel in it a yearning for the things above, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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There are also these:
Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino
Patron of Aviators, Flying, and Studying
Dear ecstatic Conventual Saint who patiently bore calumnies,
your secret was Christ the crucified Saviour who said: “When I will be lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.” You were always spiritually lifted up.Give aviators courage and protection, and may they always keep in mind your greatly uplifting example. Amen.
Prayer for Aviators
O God, who made all the elements, and gave man dominion over land and sea, Bless us, who would now conquer air. Hold up our wings with your Almighty Hand. Calm the winds as once you calmed the waves of Galilee. St. Raphel, St. Gabriel, St. Michael, Archangels of Mighty Wings, Protect us as we fly. Mary, Queen of earth and sky, pray for our happy landing. Amen
