Who should you pray to to get rid of rats? - briefly
In Catholic tradition the appropriate intercessor is Saint Jerome, who is regarded as the patron against rodents. Invoking his aid is the customary spiritual remedy for rat infestations.
Who should you pray to to get rid of rats? - in detail
People who look for divine help with rodent infestations often turn to figures traditionally associated with protection against vermin.
In the Catholic tradition, Saint Gertrude of Nivelles is invoked as the patron of mice and rats. Prayers addressed to her frequently include a request for the cessation of gnawing damage, and the feast day on 15 October offers a convenient occasion for a novena or a simple daily petition.
Saint Francis of Assisi, recognized as the patron of animals, is also called upon when a humane approach to pest control is desired. His intercession emphasizes peaceful coexistence and the safe removal of rodents from the home.
Eastern Orthodox believers sometimes appeal to Saint Basil the Great, whose name is linked to the protection of households from pests. A short prayer asking for “the safeguarding of the dwelling from all small creatures” is common in that practice.
In Hindu worship, Lord Ganesha, whose vehicle is a mouse, is asked to keep the creature obedient rather than destructive. Reciting the Ganesha mantra while offering modak or a small offering of food is believed to redirect the mouse’s attention away from stored grain.
Buddhist folk customs in parts of Southeast Asia include invoking local guardian spirits known as “tulā” or “nāga” for the removal of pests. A brief chant, often performed at sunrise, asks the spirit to “drive away the tiny intruders” while promising gratitude.
Various folk traditions across Europe and the Americas call upon household deities or “little people” (e.g., the Irish “fairy folk”) for protection against vermin. A simple spoken appeal, repeated at the threshold of a building, is intended to secure the boundary against entry.
Combining these spiritual petitions with practical measures—sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, and using traps—produces the most reliable outcome. The religious element supplies moral encouragement, while physical actions address the immediate cause of infestation.