Prayer to Our Lady of Loreto Patroness of Air Travelers

Prayer to Our Lady of Loreto

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, You who were carried by the angels And sheltered the Holy Family within the Holy House, Watch over all who travel through the air.

Protect us as we rise above the earth, Guard the aircraft and all who journey within it, And keep us safe from every danger. Grant calm to anxious hearts, Skill and wisdom to pilots and crew, And peace throughout the journey.

Bring us safely to our destination, And guide us always toward your Son, Jesus Christ, Who is our way, our truth, and our life.

Our Lady of Loreto, Pray for us and for all air travelers. Amen.

" O Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Loreto, patroness of aviation and air travelers, we come to thank you for all the graces and benefits bestowed on us. Full of trust in your powerful intercession, we fly to you, begging for your maternal solicitude and care. Listen to our supplications for the success of this flight and all the flights we may undertake. Do bless the pilots, the flight attendants, the technicians, and all of us, passengers, placed under their care. As we piously believe that your house in Nazareth was borne by angels to Loreto, so may you also bring us all safely to our destination here on earth and to our final home in heaven. Amen. "

Our Lady of Loreto is widely recognized as the patroness of aviators and air travelers, a designation officially declared by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. This patronage stems from the pious belief that the Holy House of Loreto, traditionally held to be the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nazareth, was miraculously transported by angels to Loreto, Italy. This miraculous "flight" of the house serves as a symbolic connection to aviation, inspiring prayers for safe passage for those who travel by air.

In addition to Our Lady of Loreto, other Marian titles are invoked for the protection of air travelers, such as Our Lady of the Air or Our Lady of the Airways. These advocations are particularly prevalent in places like the USA, Canada, and the Philippines, often associated with chapels located within or near airports and military bases, addressing the pastoral needs of both travelers and aviation industry workers. Examples include the chapel at Boston's Logan Airport and the Our Lady of the Airways Parish in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary before flying are common practices for many, offering comfort and seeking protection during air travel. These prayers often ask for her intercession to calm anxieties, ensure a safe journey, and guide travelers to their destinations. The Vatican's Congregation of Sacred Rites approved a blessing for airplanes in 1920, which specifically invokes Our Lady of Loreto's intercession to protect those who fly. This blessing also includes prayers for a guardian angel to escort the aircraft and for the journey to inspire a longing for spiritual things.

The significance of Our Lady of Loreto for air travelers was highlighted during a jubilee year for air travelers, where an internationally traveling statue of the Black Madonna of Loreto visited various locations, including the chapel at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. This event allowed pilgrims to receive a plenary indulgence and emphasized the spiritual protection offered by Our Lady of Loreto to those in aviation.

PRAYER: "Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of aviation and air travelers. We come to thank you for all the graces and benefits bestowed on us. Full of trust in your powerful intercession, we fly to you, begging for your maternal solicitude and care. Listen to our supplications about the success of this flight and all the flights we may undertake. Do bless the pilots, the flight attendants, the technicians, and all of us passengers placed under their care. As we piously believe that your house in Nazareth was borne by angels to Loreto, so may you also bring us all safely to our destination here on earth and to our final home in heaven. Amen."