8 Historical Prayers for When You Don’t Know What to Pray

In graduate school, one of my church history professors would start every class by reading a prayer from a figure in history. I absolutely loved hearing the words of believers who walked the Earth centuries before me. 

It gave me a glimpse into their world and added a personal element to historical events that are all too often just a list of facts and figures… 

But there were also times where it felt like someone was taking all of the emotions I was feeling and the thoughts swirling around in my brain and putting them into words that I just couldn’t come up with on my own. 

To this day, I love starting or ending a prayer time or meditation session with a historical prayer. I find it’s a helpful reminder that I’m not alone in my faith journey. That so many have walked similar paths before me, and now I have their words for comfort and encouragement. 

These prayers also serve as a great jumping off point for when you have no idea what to say, but you feel like communicating with God. 

So, I wanted to share 8 of my favorite historical prayers with you all in hopes that you too will find inspiration, encouragement, comfort, and a sense of belonging. 

1. The Prayer of St. Francis 

St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian friar who lived in the 13th century. He was a mystic and the founder of the Franciscan Order. Best known for being a travelling preacher, Francis called those around him to live lives of radical generosity and simplicity. 

The prayer of St. Francis is my personal favorite to end a Bible study or prayer time with. It helps me set an intention for the rest of the day moving forward. 

This prayer would also be a great one to recite out loud at the start of each day as a way of asking God to guide your interactions with the world around you. 

Lord make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me so love; 

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; 

Where there is darkness, light; 

Where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much 

To be consoled, as to console; 

To be understood, as to understand; 

To be loved, as to love. 

For it is in giving that we receive; 

It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned; 

And it is in dying that we are brought into eternal life. 

Amen.

2. The Prayer of St. Patrick 

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, but he was born in Britain during the 5th Century. When he was 16, Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave where he worked as a shepherd. Eventually Patrick was able to escape, but he felt called by God to return to Ireland and minister to the people there. 

I find St. Patrick’s prayer to be incredibly inspirational. I love how he takes the time to pray for Christ to be with him in every direction.

This prayer also gives a helpful format to follow when creating your own sort of morning prayer and blessing combined.

If you are ever feeling uncertain or anxious, reciting even a portion of St. Patrick’s prayer can bring about a sense of peace and give your mind something helpful to focus on. 

I arise today through the strength of heaven; 

Light of sun, radiance of moon, 

Splendor of fire, speed of lightning, 

Swiftness of wind, depth of sea, 

Stability of earth, firmness of rock. 

I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me, 

God’s eye to look before me, 

God’s wisdom to guide me, 

God’s way to lie before me, 

God’s shield to protect me

From all who shall wish me ill, 

Afar and a-near, 

Alone and in a multitude, 

Against every cruel, merciless power 

That may oppose my body and soul. 

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 to shield me, 

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, 

Christ in the heart of everyone who speaks of me, 

I arise today. 

3. The Prayer of St. Columcille 

St. Columcille or Columba is another Irish saint who was born in 521. Columba came from a ruling family but was raised by priests. As an adult, he gave up any claim he had to the throne and became a monk.

 Later in 563 after years working and setting up monasteries in Ireland, Columba and a group of monks sailed to Iona, an island off the coast of Scotland.  The monastery at Iona served as one of the key locations in the spread of Celtic Christianity, and is still a pilgrimage site today. 

 This particular prayer functions as a caim or a prayer of protection. It’s a wonderful prayer to say aloud before travelling or leaving your house since it serves to remind you of the ways in which God is present and always with you. 

It also serves as a good prayer to say in your mind or out loud whenever you are feeling anxious, stressed, or fearful. 

Bless to me the sky that is above me. 

Bless to me the ground that is beneath me. 

Bless to me the friends who are around me. 

Bless to me the love of the Three, deep within me and encircling me.

Amen.

4. The Prayer of St. Julian of Norwich 

Julian of Norwich was born in England in 1342. She was a medieval mystic and spiritual counselor. Her book, The Revelations of Divine Love, is considered a classic in Christian literature. During her life, Britain experienced the first among many outbreaks of the Black Death. 

Living during a pandemic is unfortunately something we can all relate to. When I read through her prayer, knowing that she experienced such widespread illness and suffering as she penned these words makes it all the more comforting. 

The last portion of this prayer (All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well) is something I often find myself repeating in my mind. It serves as a way of anchoring my soul to the promise God made. That all things work together for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). 

Even when things in life feel chaotic or you feel like you’re just swinging from vine to vine, trying to make it through, take comfort in St. Julian’s words. God will sustain you. God will keep you. And all shall be well. 

In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss. 

In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. 

You are our mother, brother, and savior. 

In you, Our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace. 

You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us. 

You are our maker, our lover, our keeper. 

Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, 

And all shall be well, 

And all manner of things shall be well. 

Amen. 

5. The Prayer of St. Anselm 

St. Anselm was an Italian monk who was born in 1033/34. He was a theologian and philosopher whose work is considered some of the most influential of the medieval period.

Anselm was born into a well-off family and trained from an early age to enter into politics, he chose instead to become a monk. Later in life, Anselm took a position as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Although he worked as a minister, Anselm was a scholar. His life was a constant quest to know and understand God better. But he recognized that the only way any of that was possible was if God was guiding the whole process. 

I think it can be so easy to get caught up in going from one Bible study to the next. Trying one spiritual practice after another. All in the search of growing deeper in our relationship with God. 

And while that isn’t a bad thing, it can be easy to overcomplicate things or become so busy in our searching for God that we forget to involve God in the process. 

Sometimes saying “God can you show me more about who you are today? Can you guide me as I go about each moment?” can be more impactful than finding the right Bible study or spiritual practice. St. Anselm’s prayer is a wonderful reminder of that. 

O Lord my God, 

Teach my heart this day to know where and how to see you, 

Where and how to find you. 

You have made me and remade me, 

You have bestowed on me 

All the good things I possess, 

And still I do not know you. 

I have not yet done that 

For which I was made. 

Teach me to seek you, 

For I cannot seek you 

Unless you teach me, 

Or find you, 

Unless you show yourself to me. 

Let me seek you in my desire, 

Let me desire you in my seeking. 

Let me find you by loving you, 

Let me love you when I find you. 

6. The Prayer of St. Oscar Romero 

Oscar Romero was born in El Salvador in 1917 and served as an archbishop in the Roman Catholic Church. He dedicated his ministry to speaking out against injustice and violence. In particular, he focused on defending the poor and other victims who were caught up in El Salvador’s civil conflict in the 1970s. 

His stance on social issues and his work as a minister meant his life was continually at stake, but Romero was willing to give up everything for the sake of the people in his community. Ultimately he did just that when he was assassinated while saying mass in 1980.  

Technically his words aren’t a prayer. It’s a portion of a homily given on September 25, 1977. That said, I find his words particularly helpful when the weight of everything going on in the world just feels too much. 

When you feel overwhelmed or burdened…

When your heart breaks repeatedly because of the things you see happening in the world…

When you are broken by the suffering you experience and the suffering of those around you, remember the words of St. Romero. Christ’s love wins. It’s the only thing that can. 

Let us not tire of preaching love; 

It is the force that will overcome the world. 

Let us not tire of preaching love; 

Though we see that waves of violence 

Succeed in drowning the fire of Christian love, love must win out;

It is the only thing that can. 

7. The Prayer of St. Theresa of Avila 

Theresa of Avila was born in Spain in 1515. She was a noblewoman by birth, but she felt called to live the life of a nun. She was a mystic and author who wrote many books and poems about her spiritual life. 

I’ve chosen this particular prayer of hers because I think it’s a wonderful blessing to say over yourself or others. Whenever I feel a bit lost in life or hopeless, her words offer encouragement. 

It’s a simple reminder that all we’re called to do is pass on the love we’ve been given and use the gifts we have to show that love to others. 

So next time you’re feeling a bit stuck or out of sorts, try saying this prayer out loud and see what happens. 

May today there be peace within you. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts that you have received, 

And pass on the love that has been given to you. 

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. 

Let this presence settle into your bones 

And allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. 

It is there for each and every one of us. 

Amen

8. The Prayer of Thomas Merton 

Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk who lived from 1915-1968. He was a contemplative whose faith inspired him to call for social change, in particular by supporting the nonviolent civil rights movement. Later in life, Merton spent time studying and conversing with Zen Buddhist monks in Asia. His life and his writing were devoted to his search for finding God and discerning how best to follow God’s guidance.

  Today there’s so much pressure to have a plan in life and to know where you’re going and what you’re doing next. But often that’s not really the case. Most of the time we’re all just trying to do the best we can with what we have. 

Thomas Merton’s prayer is a reminder to have grace and compassion for ourselves. To trust that all we can do each day is try our best to follow God’s will. And that’s enough. 

Next time you feel lost or alone in life. Uncertain about what God wants you to do next, I hope you remember this prayer and feel seen and understood. 

This prayer was recorded in Merton’s book Thoughts in Solitude and is called “The Prayer of Unknowing.”

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. 

I do not see the road ahead of me. 

I cannot know for certain where it will end. 

Nor do I really know myself, 

And the fact that I think I am following Your will 

does not actually mean I am doing so. 

But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. 

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. 

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. 

And I know that, if I do this, 

You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust You always 

Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for You are ever with me, 

And You will never leave me to face my perils alone. 

Amen

Those are eight of my favorite prayers from figures in the Christian tradition. I hope they brought you peace, comfort and hope. And that they serve as a place to start next time you feel a bit overwhelmed or don’t know what to say in your prayers. 

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your prayer life, you can find all of the other blog posts I’ve written about the subject here.