Prayer Before Class: Opening Prayer for the Start of Classes

In many countries around the world, including the Philippines, school classes usually start with an opening prayer, which is often led by the teacher. If you are a teacher or a student tasked with leading the opening prayer but you don’t know what to say, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll share with you our sample prayer before class that you can use inside the classroom as well as online.

Prayer is a powerful way to communicate with our Creator, and to express our deepest and sincerest desires with the Lord. Prayers can be personal and private – only recited all by yourself – or public and shared with others in a group.

Many events and gatherings, such as classes in school or university, commence with a prayer wishing for a successful activity. This is often the case with Christian or Catholic educational institutions; not so much with non-sectarian and public schools. Sometimes, these events culminate with a closing prayer thanking the Lord for the successful conduct and conclusion of the activity.

An opening prayer before class is one way to humbly ask God for guidance and wisdom as you learn and study your lessons. The Catholic Church, however, doesn’t have an official prayer for classes. That is why some teachers and students improvise on the fly and come up with their own impromptu prayers before class.

But you don’t have to make your own opening prayer for your class because we have created one for you. Feel free to use our prayer inside the classroom or during online classes on Zoom or Google Meet. So without further ado, here is our simple and solemn prayer before class.

How to Pray the Opening Prayer Before Class

Follow these steps when praying the opening prayer for the start of classes:

1. Make the sign of the cross.
2. Recite the Trinitarian formula (“in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”) while making the sign of the cross.
3. Say the opening prayer in a slow, clear and solemn tone.
4. Close the prayer by saying “Amen.”
5. Repeat the sign of the cross and the Trinitarian formula.

Download the Prayer Before Class

If you want a copy of our opening prayer before class, click any of the buttons below to download it in Microsoft Word (.docx), Google Docs, or PDF file formats.

MS Word   Google Docs   PDF

Feel free to print and share the prayer for personal use in your classroom or online class. If you want to share the prayer on social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), please mention Tech Pilipinas as the author and copyright owner.

Alternative Prayer Before Class

If you’re not very happy with our prayer before class, you can use the alternative one below.

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we gather here today, we humbly bow our heads in gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow. We thank you for the gift of knowledge and understanding that you bestow upon us each day.

Lord, we ask for your guidance and wisdom as we enter this classroom. Please grant us the clarity of mind to comprehend the lessons that will be taught and the strength to overcome any challenges that may arise.

Bless our teachers with patience and insight, that they may inspire and lead us on this educational journey. May they find joy in their work and continue to be a source of inspiration for all of us.

Help us to be attentive, respectful, and supportive of one another as we engage in our studies. May our time together be productive, and may we use the knowledge we gain for the betterment of ourselves and others.

We also lift up any concerns or worries we may have, knowing that you are our refuge and strength. Grant us peace and confidence as we face the tasks ahead.

In your name, we pray. Amen.

Short Prayers Before Class

If you’re pressed for time, you can choose from any of the short prayers listed below.

Short Prayer 1

Heavenly Father, as we gather to learn today, we seek your guidance and wisdom. Open our minds to understanding, fill our hearts with curiosity, and inspire us to be our best selves. Bless our teacher with patience and insight. May this class be a place of growth, respect, and support. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Short Prayer 2

Heavenly Father, in this classroom, we come together with eager minds and open hearts. Bless us with the power of knowledge, the strength to overcome challenges, and the curiosity to explore the world around us. Guide our teacher’s words and our understanding. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Short Prayer 3

Dear God, we gather here today to learn and grow. Please guide our minds and hearts as we study. Bless our teacher with wisdom and patience, and help us be good friends to one another. We are grateful for the chance to be in this class and to discover new things. May we listen well, ask questions when we need to, and work hard to understand. Amen.

Prayer Before Class in Tagalog

Mahal na Diyos, nagtitipon kami ngayon upang mag-aral at lumago. Patnubayan mo po ang aming mga isipan at puso habang kami’y nag-aaral. Iyong pagpalain ang aming guro ng karunungan at pasensya, at tulungan kaming maging mabubuting kaibigan sa isa’t isa. Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa pagkakataong maging parte ng klase na ito at matutunan ang mga bagong bagay. Nawa’y kami’y makinig nang mabuti, magtanong kung kinakailangan, at magtrabaho nang masikap upang maunawaan. Amen.

Parting Words

We hope that our opening prayer before class is a big help to you in case you can’t come up with your own. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends and colleagues who might be interested to know how to start a class with a prayer. God bless!