AKA: USAF, Airmen, Wingmen
Serving in the Air Force is a distinctive and demanding experience, with Airmen fulfilling critical roles in their nation's defense especially around aviation and reconnaissance. Training in the Air Force is rigorous, emphasizing discipline and attention to detail due to the precision required in aviation and defense operations.
The Air Force offers diverse career pathways, allowing personnel to specialize in many areas. While most probably think fighter pilots when they think Air Force, there are less than 10% of Air Force personnel that are involved in piloting aircraft, and among them, a fraction become fighter pilots. Non-pilot members of the Air Force play crucial roles in supporting and complementing the flying mission of the Air Force in areas like aircraft maintenance, logistics, healthcare, cybersecurity, intelligence and analysis, engineering, air traffic control, chaplains and many administrative roles.
Global mobility is a significant aspect of the Air Force life, as service members can be stationed at bases around the world, potentially facing high-stress situations, hazardous conditions and personal sacrifice.
Given the challenges faced by those in the Air Force, it is essential to pray for their safety, well-being, and resilience. And the saints offer a great way to ask for their intervention in order to provide emotional support, guidance, and strength to Airmen as they navigate their roles and duties.
Who is the Patron Saint of the Air Force
There are the all-encompassing military saints of St. Michael the Archangel, St. George and St. Joan of Arc but there are also some specific saints associated with the Air Force. These saints are St. Joseph of Cupertino, the Patron Saint of Pilots and Our Lady of Loretto.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, an Italian Franciscan friar from the 17th century, holds a unique connection to the Air Force, particularly through accounts of his remarkable experiences of levitation and his renowned status as a mystical flyer.
Historical records and biographical narratives recount St. Joseph of Cupertino's extraordinary phenomenon of levitation, which occurred during moments of profound prayer or contemplation. It was reported that, while participating in religious ceremonies or deep meditation, he would enter ecstatic states where he seemingly defied gravity, ascending or floating in the air. Numerous witnesses attested to these events, earning him the moniker "the Flying Friar."
For those in the Air Force, St. Joseph of Cupertino has become a revered figure. Pilots and aviation professionals have sought his intercession, invoking his name for protection, guidance, and safe journeys during their flights. His exceptional spiritual devotion and awe-inspiring abilities make him a source of inspiration and a comforting presence for those in the realm of the Air Force, reminding them of the extraordinary and the divine as they navigate the skies and serve their mission.
Our Lady of Loreto is a title bestowed upon the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, with a profound link to the Holy House of Loreto. In Catholic tradition, the Holy House of Loreto is believed to be the very place where Mary was born, raised, and where the Annunciation transpired.
The association of Our Lady of Loreto with the Air Force and aviators finds its origins in the belief that the Holy House of Loreto was miraculously transported by angels from the Holy Land to Loreto, Italy, in the 13th century. According to legend, this extraordinary relocation was enacted to safeguard the house from destruction during the tumultuous times of the Crusades and subsequent conflicts.
Due to this unique connection to flight, Our Lady of Loreto is regarded as a spiritual figure who can offer solace, fortitude, and guidance during journeys through the skies, making her a cherished source of inspiration and comfort for those in the Air Force.
Click here for our list of Patron Saints.
Prayers for Air Force
Air Force Prayer
Lord guard and guide the men who fly. Through the great spaces of sky. Be with them as they take to the air, In morning light and sunshine fair.
Eternal Father, strong to save, give them courage, make them brave; protect them whereso’er they go, from shell and flak and fire and foe.
Most loved Member of their crew, ride with them up in the blue. Direct their bombs upon the foe, but shelter those whom Thou dost know.
Keep them together upon their way. Grant their work success today. Deliver them from hate and sin, and bring them safely down again.
O God bless the men who fly, through lonely way across the sky. Amen.
St. Michael the Archangel Prayer
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Airmen Prayer
Lord God, watch over and protect the Airmen of our country as they fly upon their appointed tasks.
Give them courage and skill in the performance of their duty.
Sustain them with Your everlasting arms. Amen.
Related Patron Saint Jewelry and Rosaries
Buy some beautiful St. Michael, St. George, St. Joan of Arc, St. Joseph of Cupertino or Our Lady of Loretto jewelry to keep you or your loved one close to the Patron saint of the Air Force and be a symbol of your faith.
