ou, O Lord, are my strength, my patience, my light, and my counsel.  It is you who touch the hearts of the children entrusted to my care.  Abandon me not to myself for one moment.  For my own guidance and that of my students, grant me the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety, the spirit of a holy fear of you and an ardent zeal to procure your glory.  I unite my efforts to those of Jesus Christ, and I beg the Most Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph, the Guardian Angels, and Saint John Baptist de La Salle to protect me this day in the performance of my duties.  Amen.¹

Saint John Baptist de La Salle,

Patron of all teachers, pray for us!

Live, Jesus, in our hearts.  Forever!

 ¹ This is a modernization of the prayer which the Brothers prayed before school each day some time after 1850.  Although some mistakenly attribute the origin of the prayer to De La Salle,  Brother Gerard Rummery notes it has its genesis in the eighteenth century Traite des Etudes by Rollin. For the most recent English version, translated by Brother Edwin Bannon of the District of Great Britain, see below:

Lord, you are my patience, my strength,

my light and my counsel.  You guide me

in what I have to say to my pupils, and

you make them responsive to my words.

Be with them and with me at all times.

Give me for their sake a share in the

gifts of your Holy Spirit; wisdom,

understanding, filial devotion to you and

a fear of displeasing you.

Increase my faith and give me zeal

to build your kingdom.

Accept my work as the continuation of

your divine Son’s earthly ministry.

I ask this in His name.  Amen.

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.

St. Joseph, protector of the Child Jesus,

Pray for us.

Guardian Angels, keep my pupils from

dangers to soul and body.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, Patron

of teachers, pray for us.