Powerful Catholic Prayers for Patience for Teachers

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As teachers, there are many points in our day where we need the virtue of patience. A lot of patience, some days! It can be tough to find that inner peace when struggling with a lack of patience, so I thought it might be helpful to share some simple, powerful options when it comes to Catholic prayers for patience that you can say when you need a moment to re-center while you’re in your classroom!

How to Use these Catholic Prayers for Patience for Teachers

Depending on your school day, you might not find yourself praying for patience every single day. Some years, you might find yourself in a constant practice of patience, relying on God. We all know some years are harder than others! There is no best way to say these prayers, but just turn to God’s grace when you find yourself in need of patience. You might use any one of the prayers in this list in the following ways:

add to your morning prayers
place a prayer card in your planner or on your desk
commit a line to memory and say it to yourself when you need support

Catholic Prayers for Patience for Teachers

Many of these prayers lean on intercessory help of saints who suffered with their own imperfections and strove through their Christian faith to find their way through difficult times by leaning on the providence of God. Some of these are great for a morning prayer, while others might be a good fit for a short prayer in the middle of a hard work day or class period.

The Serenity Prayer

This prayer from St. Francis is one that can help us to take a moment and breathe. It’s as follows:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow 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
so much seek
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 of the self that we are born
to eternal life.

It’s a bit longer, but just that first line is great for fighting off impatience – “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.” Beautiful!

A similar prayer that leans into that peace is this prayer that is often misattributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Historians agree this was written by Reinhold Niebuhr:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.

This may seem strange for a patience prayer, but acceptance and wisdom are both things that aid in that virtue!

St. Monica Prayers

If you’re unfamiliar with St. Monica, she is a great saint for models of patience and persistent prayer! The story of her life is amazing. She prayed for the conversion of her husband and her son St. Augustine. Yes- that St. Augustine! As we’re talking about Catholic prayers of patience for teachers, you might be wondering what St. Monica, the patient mother, has to do with the classroom. Check out this simple prayer:

Dear St. Monica, you who waited patiently for years for your son to return to the faith, grant me patience in my own struggles. Help me to trust in God’s timing and to remain steadfast in prayer. May your example inspire me to persevere, even when the path seems long and arduous.

(Source)

As you’re in your classroom, you might relate to that feeling of a long and arduous path!

St. Francis de Sales

Feelings of impatience can sometimes feel like anxiousness. The mood of “hurry up and wait” can distract from a patient heart. In those cases, the prayer of St. Francis de Sales is a nice one! Here is the full prayer:

Be at peace.
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, I tend to be someone who likes a short refrain to remind myself to focus on a difficult virtue, like patience. I might pull out the last line, “Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.” when I am feeling impatient and rushed. This might be waiting at a red light when I’m trying to get to school, or when someone just HAS to raise their hand and ask a question at the end of the staff meeting.

Bible Verses for Patience

Sometimes simply finding a Bible verse and using it as a refrain can help! Here are a few Bible verses referring to the virtue of patience:

Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.”
Ephesians 4:2 “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love”

Catholic Prayers for Patience for Teachers

I’m so glad you’re here, looking for support in growing your strong faith! All good things come from God, and we hope and trust in God’s goodness for our lives, and the lives of the children in our classroom. Whether a short prayer for patience is the first thing you do in the morning, or you look to God’s help in the middle of a difficult class period when you find yourself in need of a great deal of patience, I hope these prayers are helpful for you!