A Morning Prayer

From Pow-Wows, or Long Lost Friend, by John George Hoffman, [1820], we have a morning prayer to be spoken before starting on a journey, which will save the person from all mishaps.

I (here the name is to be pronounced) will go on a journey to-day; I will walk upon God’s way, and walk where God himself did walk, and our dear Lord Jesus Christ, and our dearest Virgin with her dear little babe, with her seven rings and her true things. Oh, thou! my dear Lord Jesus Christ, I am thine own, that no dog may bite me, no wolf bite me, and no murderer secretly approach me; save me, O my God, from sudden death! I am in God’s hands, and there I will bind myself. In God’s hands I am by our Lord Jesus’ five wounds, that any gun or other arms may not do me any more harm than the virginity of our Holy Virgin Mary was injured by the favor of her beloved Jesus. After this say three Lord’s prayers, the Ave Maria, and the articles of faith.