A powerful way to intercede for all firefighters is to offer a prayer to St. Florian. He is known as the patron saint of firefighters based on legends of his life.
St. Florian was a Roman solider in the 3rd century who was reportedly in charge of a special group of firefighting soldiers. According to the 19th-century book Sacred and Legendary Art, this involved his swift action to douse the flames threatening a city.
He was a native of Enns, in Lower Austria, and worked many miracles: among others he is said to have extinguished a conflagration by throwing a pitcher-full of water over the flames.
Ever since then, he has been associated with firefighters, and many have called upon his intercession to ask for God’s protection over them.
Here is a popular prayer to St. Florian, often prayed by firefighters for heavenly assistance.
Almighty God, Protector of all Mankind,
Your strength, power and wisdom are a beacon of light to all men.
Give special guidance to Firemen and Firefighters
so that we may be protected from harm while performing our duty.
Help me with Your loving care while I work to save the lives and property of all people young and old.
Give me the courage and alertness to protect my neighbors and all others
whom I am pledged to aid when involved in fire or accident.
Amen.
And today we celebrate...