On the bare rocks, on the everlasting glaciers,
on every crag of the Alps where Providence
has placed us as a faithful bulwark of our
lands, we, purified by duty
dangerously done,
raise our souls to You, O Lord, who protect
our mothers, our wives,
our children and our brothers far away, and
help us to be worthy of the glory of our forefathers.
Almighty God, who rule all the elements,
save us, armed as we are with faith and love.
Save us from the relentless frost, from the whirling
blizzard, from the fury of the avalanche,
let our feet stand firm
on the dizzy ridges, on the sheer walls,
beyond the treacherous crevasses,
make our arms strong against anyone
who threatens our Homeland, our Flag,
our thousand-year-old Christian civilisation.
And You, Mother of God, whiter than the snow,
You who have known and gathered
every suffering and every sacrifice
of all the fallen Alpini,
You who know and gather every yearning
and every hope
of all the Alpini living and under arms,
bless and smile on our Battalions
and our Groups.
Amen.

Further reading: The Mule’s Prayer.