What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

Some years ago there was much chat about having St. Isidore of Seville (+636) proposed as the patron saint of the internet.  I was asked to write a prayer people could recite before using the internet.  It seemed to me that that was a good idea.  I wrote the prayer in Latin and submitted it, with a translation into English, to a bishop who gave it his approval. 

This prayer is all over the same internet now (both with and without attribution), which amazes me a little.  I was asked recently about a Polish version of the same, and I was able to point to one someone had already prepared.  The experience prompted me to revisit this “internet prayer”, seek some additional language translations, and post them all online in one place.  Here is the prayer.  These days most Latinists refer to the “internet” as interrete, n.

You will want to know why people proposed St. Isidore for this role.  I think it was probably because his most notable work, the Etymologiae, a massive encyclopedic work of 448 chapters in 20 volumes indexing just about everything people thought it was important to know at the time, was rather like a primitive database.    You can pray to any saint in this matter, of course, and nothing official about a patron for the internet has been handed down from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which is the competent dicastery of the Holy See in all issues having to do with patron saints.  People wanted a prayer for St. Isidore, and I wrote one, but you should feel free to change the name to whatever saint you prefer.  Others have proposed St. Maximilian Kolbe (+1941), St. Bernadine of Siena (+1444), St. Rita of Cascia (+1457), and the Archangel Gabriel (still around).

Please know that I am quite happy for people to use this prayer.  I kindly ask that you give attribution.   Also, if you would like to offer a translation into a language missing from those below, please send it.  I am waiting for a translation in Tamil right now. 

LINGUA LATINA

 

Oratio ante colligationem in interrete:
Omni­potens aeterne Deus,
qui secundum imaginem Tuam nos plasmasti
et omnia bona, vera, et pulchra,
praesertim in divi­na persona Unigeniti Fi­lii Tui
Domini nostri Iesu Christi, quaerere iussi­sti,
praesta, quaesumus,
ut, per intercessionem Sancti Isidori, Epi­scopi et Doctoris,
in peregrinationibus per interrete,
et manus oculosque ad quae Tibi sunt placita intendamus
et omnes quos conveni­mus cum caritate ac patientia accipiamus.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

ENGLISH 

 

A prayer before logging onto the internet:
Almighty and eternal God,
who created us in Thy image
and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful,
especially in the divine person of Thy Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant, we beseech Thee,
that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor,
during our journeys through the internet
we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee
and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter.
Through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

CATALAN

Oració abans de conectar amb la ret internet
Déu totpoderós i etern
qui ens haveu creat a la vostra imatge
i haveu manat que cerquéssim tot allò que es bo, veritat i bell,
especialment en la divina persona del vostre Fill Unigènit, el nostre Senyor Jesucrist,
concedeu, si us plau,
que, per l’intercessió de sant Isidre, bisbe i doctor,
durant les nostres peregrinacions per la ret internet,
dirigim els nostres ulls i les nostres mans sols envers allò que us és grat,
i que tractem amb caritat i paciència a totes les ànimes que hi trobem.
Per Nostre Senyor Jesucrist.  Amen.

CEBUANO (Philippines)

Pag-ampo bag-o sa pagsulod sa Internet.
Diyos nga makagagahum ug walay katapusan, nga nag gama
kanamo ingon sa Imong imahen, ug nagingon nga pangitaon
ang tanan nga maayo, tinood ug maanindot, hilabi na sa
sagrado nga persona sa imong Bugtong nga anak, nga
among Ginoong Hesukristo, ihatag, nangaliyopo
kami nga Imong tabangan, gumikan ni San Isidro, Obispo ug Magtutudlo
nga sa among paglawig sa internet hinaut unta
among giyahan ang among mga kamot ug mga mata ngadto
lamang sa makapahalipay Kanimo, ug nga pinaagi unta sa kalooy ug gugma 
mahimamat namo ang tanan nga among makita didto.
Kini among gipangayo gumikan ni Kristo nga among Ginoo.  Amen.  

CHINESE (MANDARIN)  NB: This may not appear correctly if you do not have the proper fonts.
  LISTEN


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全能永生的天主,
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在教会圣师怡铎主教（Saint Isidore）的代祷下,
求您护佑我们,
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DEUTSCH (GERMAN)

Ein Gebet vor dem Gang ins Internet:
Allmächtiger und ewiger Gott
der Du uns geschaffen hast nach deinem Bilde
und uns geboten hast zu suchen nach allem, was da gut, wahr und schön ist
besonders in der göttlichen Person
deines eingeborenen Sohnes, unseres Herren Jesus Christus
Erhöre unser Flehen
durch die Fürsprache von Sankt Isidor, Bischof und Doktor
daß während unserer Reisen durch das Internet
wir unsere Hände und Augen
nur auf Dinge richten mögen, die Dich erfreuen
und all jene Seelen, die uns begegnen
behandeln mit Geduld und Barmherzigkeit
durch Christus unseren Herren.  Amen.

ESPAÑOL (SPANISH)
  LISTEN (Mexican)

 

FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

Isang panalangin bago pumasok sa internet:
Diyos na makapangyarihan at walang hanggan,
na lumikha sa amin ayon sa Iyong imahen
at nagtagubiling hanapin ang lahat ng mabuti, totoo, at maganda,
lalo na sa  banal na persona ng Bugtong Mong Anak, ang aming Panginoong Hesukristo,
nagsusumamo kami na Iyong tulungan,
sa pamamagitan ni San Isidro, Obispo at Doktor,
sa aming mga paglalakbay sa internet
na akayin lamang ang aming mga kamay at mata sa nakalulugod sa Iyo
at pakitunguhan nang may habag at tiyaga ang lahat ng kaluluwang makikilala.
Sa pamamagitan ni Kristong aming Panginoon. Amen

FINNISH

Rukous ennen internetiin kytkeytymistä:
Kaikkivaltias, iankaikkinen Jumala,
sinä teit meidät kuvaksesi
ja asetit meidät etsimään kaikkea,
mikä on hyvää, totta ja kaunista
erityisesti ainosyntyisen Poikasi,
meidän Herramme Jeesuksen Kristuksen
jumalallisessa persoonassa.
Me pyydämme sinua:
suo, että me pyhän Isidoruksen,
piispan ja opettajan, esirukousten kautta
selaisimme internetiä
ohjaten käsiämme ja silmiämme vain siihen,
mikä miellyttää sinua,
ja osoittaisimme kaikille verkossa kohtaamillemme ihmisille
rakkautta ja kärsivällisyyttä.
Tätä pyydämme Kristuksen, Herramme, kautta. Aamen.

FRANÇAIS (FRENCH)

Avant de nous connecter à l’Internet:
Dieu Eternel et Tout Puissant
qui nous a créés à Ton image
et nous ordonne de rechercher
ce qui est bon, vrai et beau,
spécialement dans la personne divine de Ton Fils unique notre Seigneur Jésus Christ,
nous T’implorons par l’intercession
de Saint Isidore Évêque et Docteur
de nous aider pendant nos voyages
à travers l’Internet
à diriger nos mains et nos yeux
vers ce qui T’est agréable,
et à accueillir avec charité et patience
tous ceux que nous rencontrerons.
Par le Christ notre Seigneur, Amen

BAHASA INDONESIA (INDONESIAN)

Doa sebelum berselancar di internet

Allah yang kekal dan kuasa,
yang menciptakan kami dalam rupa-Mu
dan memanggil kami untuk mencari semua yang baik, benar, dan indah,
terutama di dalam pribadi ilahi Putra-Mu yang tunggal, Tuhan kami Yesus Kristus,
kami mohon,
dengan pengantaraan Santo Isidore, Uskup dan Pujangga Gereja,
supaya dalam perjalanan kami di internet
kami mengarahkan tangan dan mata kami kepada apa yang berkenan kepada-Mu
dan memperlakukan semua orang yang kami temui dengan kasih dan kesabaran.
Demi Kristus Tuhan kami. Amin.

ITALIANO (ITALIAN)

Preghiera prima di un collegamento alla rete internet:
O Dio onnipotente ed eterno che ci hai plasmati a Tua immagine,
e ci hai comandato di cercare tutto ciò che è buono, vero e bello,
specialmente nella persona del Tuo Unigenito Figlio
e nostro Signore Gesù Cristo,
fa’, Te ne preghiamo, che per intercessione di
Sant’Isidoro, Vescovo e Dottore,
durante le nostre peregrinazioni nella rete internet
dirigiamo i nostri occhi e le nostre mani soltanto a ciò che Ti è gradito
e trattiamo con carità e pazienza tutte le anime che incontriamo.
Per Cristo nostro Signore. Amen.

KINYAMBO (spoken in Tanzania)

Ensara otakatahile omu intaneti
Mungu owabushobola natalihwaho,
eyatutonzile Omurususo lwawe
kandi eyayenzile katuhiga byona ebili birungi, ebya mazima nebili  kusemela,
nangu kulabila Omumwana Wawe wenka Omugonzibwa, Omukama weitu Yesu Kristu,
nitukusaba otubele,
kulabila omunsara zo Mutakatifu Isidore, Omwepiskopi na Daktari,
omurugendo lwaitu olwe intaneti
tutwale emikono yeitu hamo nameiso omubintu ebili kusemela ahali Iwe
kandi tubakolele ne ngonzi hamwe nokwetohya abantu abotulikutanganwa nabo.
Kulabila omuli Kristu Omukama weitu. Amina.

KISWAHILI (SWAHILI)

Sala kabla ya kuingia kwenye Interneti
Mungu Mwenyezi na WA milele,
Uliyetuumba kwa umbo Wako
Na ukatuamuru tutafute chochote kilicho kizuri, kweli na cha kupendeza,
Hasa katika nafsi takatifu ya Mwanao WA pekee, Bwana wetu Yesu Kristu,
Tujalie, tunakusihi,
Ili, kwa uombei Mtakatifu Isidore, Askofu na Daktari,
Wakati WA safari zetu kwenye Interneti
Tutumie mikono yetu na macho yetu kwa kile kinachokupendeza
Na kuwatunza kwa upendo na uvumilivu wale wote tutakaowakuta.
Kwa njia ya Kristu Bwana wetu. Amina

KOREAN     NB: This may not appear correctly if you do not have the proper fonts.

인터넷 ì ‘ì† ì „ì— 하는 기도문
ë‹¹ì‹ ëª¨ìŠµëŒ€ë¡œ ì €í¬ë¥¼ ì°½ì¡°í•˜ì‹ ì „ëŠ¥í•˜ì‹œê³ ì˜ì›í•˜ì‹ í•˜ëŠë‹˜,
특별히 하느님이시며 ì¸ê°„ì´ì‹ ë‹¹ì‹ ì™¸ì•„ë“¤ 우리 주 예수 그리스도 안에서,
ë‹¹ì‹ ì€ ì„ í•˜ê³ ì°¸ë˜ê³ ì•„ë¦„ë‹¤ìš´ ëª¨ë“ ê²ƒì„ ì¶”êµ¬í•˜ë¼ê³ ì €í¬ì—ê²Œ 명하셨나이다.
그러므로 ë‹¹ì‹ ê»˜ 간구하오니,
인터넷 상에서의 순례 동안에
주교이자 êµíšŒí•™ìžì´ì‹ ì„± 이시도르의 ì „êµ¬ë¡œ
하느님 ë‹¹ì‹ ê»˜ 합당한 것에만 ì €í¬ê°€ 눈길과 손길을 이끌어 가도록 í•˜ì‹œê³ ,
마주치는 ëª¨ë“ ì˜í˜¼ë“¤ì„ 사랑과 인내로 대하도록 하소서.
우리 주 그리스도를 통하여 비나이다. 아멘

MALTI (MALTESE)  NB: This may not appear correctly if you do not have the proper fonts.

Talba qabel tid?ol fuq l-Internet
Alla li tista’ kollox u bla tmiem,
li ?laqtna skond ix-xbieha tieg?ek
u ridtna nimxu wara kull ma hu tajjeb, veru u sabi?,
l-aktar fil-persuna divina tal-Iben Wa?dieni tieg?ek, is-Sinjur tag?na ?esù Kristu,
ag?ti lil dawk kollha li jfittxuk,
li bl-inter?essjoni ta’ San Isidor, Isqof u Duttur tal-Knisja,
fil-mixja tag?na fl-internet
inwasslu ?arsitna u g?emilna lejn dak li jog??ob lilek u
n?ibu ru?na bl-im?abba u l-pa?enzja ma’ dawk kollha li niltaqg?u mag?hom.
Bi Kristu Sidna. Amen.

NEERLANDISCH (DUTCH)

Gebed bij het openen van Internet
Almachtige, eeuwige God,
die ons naar Uw beeld hebt gevormd,
en ons gelast hebt, alles wat goed, waar en schoon is,
vooreerst in de goddelijke persoon van Uw eniggeboren Zoon,
Onze Heer Jezus Christus te zoeken,
geef, bidden wij,
dat wij, door de voorspraak van de heilige Isidorus, Bisshop en Kerkleraar,
in onze zoektochten doorheen Internet,
niet slechts handen en ogen richten naar wat U welgevallig is,
maar bovendien allen die we aantreffen liefdevol en geduldig bejegenen,
door Christus Onze Heer. Amen.

POLSKI (POLISH)

Modlitwa przed wej?ciem do internetu:

Wszechmocny i wieczny Bo?e,
Który stworzy?e? nas na Twoje podobie?stwo
i poleci?e? nam szuka?, przede wszystkim, tego co dobre,
prawdziwe i pi?kne,
szczególnie w Boskiej Osobie Twego Jednorodzonego Syna,
Pana naszego Jezusa Chrystusa,
pomó? nam, b?agamy Ciebie,
przez wstawiennictwo ?w. Izydora, biskupa i doktora,
aby?my podczas naszych w?drówek w internecie
kierowali nasze r?ce i oczy tylko na to, co podoba si? Tobie
i traktowali z mi?o?ci? i cierpliwo?ci?
wszystkie te osoby, które spotkamy
przez Chrystusa Pana naszego. Amen.

PORTUGÊS (PORTUGESE)

Deus Todo Poderoso,
que nos criou à Vossa imagem
e nos indicou o caminho do bem, do verdadeiro e do belo,
especialmente na pessoa divina de Vosso Filho Unigênito,
Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo,
permiti-nos que, pela intercessão de Santo Isidoro, bispo e doutor,
durante nossas navegações pela Internet,
dirijamos nossas mãos e nossos olhos apenas àquelas coisas
que Vos sejam aprazí­veis
e que tratemos com caridade e paciência todas aquelas almas que encontrarmos pelo caminho.
Por Cristo Nosso Senhor, Amem.

ROMANACCIO (ROMAN)

Orazzione prima da collegasse a la rete
Oddio ‘nnipotente ‘n zempiterno, che c’hai fatto apparo de ‘na pittura de Sampietro, (1)
e c’hai detto:"bbadate da cerca’ le cose bbone, ‘ndo’ stanno stanno e senza torna’ ‘ndietro,(2)
e speciarmente in de la perzona de Mi’ fijo e Signore Vostro Ggesucristo",(3)
fa’ che Sant’Isidoro, Vescovo e Dottore come sarvognuno nun z’era mai visto,(4)
ce dia ‘na mano a ggira’ co’ ‘sti machinari in de la rete de’ internette,
addopranno occhi e mmano cercanno da piacette
e trattanno tutti quelli che che ‘ncontramo
come farebbe Cristo, fijo Tuo, e nno Ccaino, fijo d’Adamo.
Pe’ Ccristo Nostro Signore. Ame’.

(1) A reference to the Sistine Chapel and the catechetical intent of the depiction of Gen 1,26-27
(2) Luke 9:62
(3) Surely a Roman commoner would have God speak in first person.
(4) "sarvognuno" = "no disrespect to all others"

SVENSKA (SWEDISH)
  LISTEN
Bön inför anslutningen till internet
Allsmäktige evige Gud,
Du som har skapat oss till Din avbild,
och uppmanat oss att eftersöka allt gott, sant och vackert,
i synnerhet i Din enfödde Sons, vår Herres Jesu Kristi,
gudomliga person, vi ber att Du genom den helige biskopen och kyrkoläraren Isidors
förbön ville utverka att vi i våra irrfärder genom intranätet riktar händer
och ögon mot det som Du finner välbehagligt,
och att vi behandlar alla som vi stöter på med kärlek och tålamod.
Genom Kristus vår Herre. Amen.

VIETNAMESE  NB: This may not appear correctly if you do not have the proper fonts.

Lôøi nguyeän tröôùc khi duøng Internet

Laïy Thieân Chuùa toaøn naêng vaø haèng höõu
Chuùa ñaõ taïo döïng chuùng con theo hình aûnh Chuùa
vaø truyeàn  daïy chuùng con tìm Chaân, Thieän, Myõ,
nhaát laø ôû Con Moät Chuùa laø Ñöùc Kitoâ Chuùa chuùng con,
xin thöông giuùp chuùng con,
nhôø lôøi baàu cöû cuûa Thaùnh Isiñoâroâ Giaùm Muïc Tieán Só,
trong khi haønh trình treân maïng löôùi toaøn caàu,
chæ ñöa tay vaø maét tìm nhöõng gì ñeïp loøng Chuùa
vaø ñoùn nhaän trong baùc aùi vaø kieân nhaãn
moïi taâm hoàn maø chuùng con gaëp.
Nhôø Ñöùc Kitoâ Chuùa chuùng con. Amen

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