Prayer for Travelers (Itinerarium)
The Itinerarium is the Church’s traditional prayer for those who set out on a journey. Drawn from the Rituale Romanum, it includes the antiphon In viam pacis and the collect asking God that the traveler may reach his destination and return in peace. The outward pilgrimage is a figure of the Christian’s pilgrimage toward the heavenly Homeland.
Antiphon
May the almighty and merciful Lord lead us in the way of peace and prosperity, and may the angel Raphael accompany us on the journey: so that, with peace, salvation, and joy, we may return to our own homes.
Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79, abridged)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people: and hath raised up a horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant (…) to direct our feet into the way of peace.
Collect
O God, who made the children of Israel pass dry-shod through the midst of the sea, and who showed the way to the three Magi by a star: grant us, we beseech thee, a prosperous journey and tranquil weather; that, accompanied by thy holy Angel, we may happily reach the place to which we are going, and at length attain the haven of eternal salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Latin
Antiphona: In viam pacis et prosperitatis dirigat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus: et Angelus Raphael comitetur nobiscum in via, ut cum pace, salute et gaudio revertamur ad propria.
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ; et erexit cornu salutis nobis, in domo David pueri sui (...) ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
Oremus: Deus, qui filios Israel per maris medium sicco vestigio ire fecisti, quique tribus Magis iter ad te stella duce pandisti: tribue nobis, quæsumus, iter prosperum tempusque tranquillum; ut Angelo tuo sancto comite, ad eum, quo pergimus, locum, ac demum ad æternæ salutis portum pervenire feliciter valeamus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.