Prayers

As intimately personal as prayer is, it makes use of word-formulas.

Liturgical prayer

Some of the loved, time-approved formulas of Catholic devotion are included here.

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. (Said at the beginning and end of prayers.)

Our Father (The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Prayer of Praise / Glory be to the Father

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen

Act of Faith

My God, I believe in Thee and in all Thy Church doth teach, because Thou hast said it and Thy word is true. Amen.

Act of Hope

My God, I hope in Thee, for grace and for glory, because of Thy promises, Thy mercy and Thy power. Amen.

Act of Charity (Love)

My God, because Thou art so good, I love Thee with all my heart, and for Thy sake, I love my neighbour as myself. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, because Thou art so good, I am very sorry that I have sinned against Thee and I will not sin again. Amen.

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit
Response: Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be re-created.
Response: And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, have instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Angelus

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
Response:And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Response: May it be done unto me according to your word. Hail Mary...

And the Word was made flesh.
Response: And dwelt among us. Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven

Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia.
Response:The Son whom you were privileged to bear, Alleluia, has risen as he said, Alleluia

Pray for us to God, Alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
Response: For the Lord has truly rise, Alleluia

Let us pray.

It was by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that you brought joy to the world. Grant that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joy of eternal life. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Grace before and Thanksgiving after Meals

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified

Behold, my beloved and good Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech you to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate your five most precious wounds, having before my eyes that which David in prophecy spoke about you, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones". (Ps 22:17-18)

The Rosary

The complete rosary is composed of 20 decades, but it is divided into four distinct parts, each containing five decades. The first part consists of five joyful events in the life of Jesus and Mary, the second five mysteries - introduced by Pope John Paul II - recall mysteries of Light, the third five mysteries recall sorrowful events in the life of Jesus and the fourth five recall glorious events.

The events (Mysteries) of the rosary are scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary. By meditating on these truths we deepen our understanding of the Mysteries of Redemption, the Incarnation of the Lord and the Christian life, both present and future.

Meditation on the mysteries of Christ is proposed in the Rosary by means of a method of repitition designed to assist their assimilation, above all of the Hail Mary. By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. This is especially so when the Rosary is seen as an outpouring of that love which tirelessly returns to the person loved. Not only does Christ have a divine heart, rich in mercy and forgiveness, but also a human heart, capable of stirrings of affection. Although the repeated Hail Mary is addressed to Mary, it is to Jesus that the act of love is ultimately directed, with her and through her - and nourished by a desire to be confirmed ever more completely to Christ.

(Extract from Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Apostolic Letter on the Most Holy Rosary, John Paul II, October 2002)

How to Pray the Rosary

We begin by making the Sign of the Cross.
Then we say The Apostles Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys and one Glory Be to the Father on the small chain.

Then the following:
Announcing the mystery is important, as our imagination and mind are directed towards a particular episode in the life of Christ and focuses our attention. Say one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be to the Father.
This completes one decade and all other decades are said in the same way, while meditating on the event during each decade.

The Hail, Holy Queen may be recited at the end.

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Related Prayers The Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

- on Mondays and Saturdays -

1. The Annunciation to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God.(Hail full of Grace. Lk 1)
2. The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.(Love of neighbour. Lk 1)
3. The Birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem.(Each is called to bring forth Jesus in our life. Lk 2)
4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.(Obedience to God's Will. Mary is told that a sword of sorrow will pierce her heart. Lk 2)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple.(Jesus listens to the wise men and asks questions. Lk 2)

The Mysteries of Light

- The Luminous Mysteries -
- on Thursdays -

1. The Baptism in the Jordan.(This is my Son, the Beloved. He is my Chosen One. Matt 3:16)
2. The Wedding at Cana.(Jesus let His Glory appear and His disciples believed in Him. Jn 2 7-11)
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God.(Father, may your kingdom come in all the world. Mk 1:14-15)
4. The Transfiguration.(Jesus revealed his glory. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright as light. Matt 17:2)
5. The Institution of the Eucharist.(Take and eat. This is my Body... This is my Blood shed for your. Matt 26:26)

The Sorrowful Mysteries

- on Tuesdays and Fridays -

1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.(Spirit of Prayer. Matt 26)
2. The Scourging of Jesus at the pillar.(Modesty and Purity)
3. The Crowning of Jesus with thorns.(Matt 27)
4. Jesus carries the Cross.(May we reach out to help everyone we meet. Lk 23)
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus.(Self-denial)

The Glorious Mysteries

- on Wednesdays and Saturdays -

1. The Resurrection of Jesus.(Faith. Matt 28)
2. The Ascension of Jesus.(Hope. Lk 24:50)
3. The Descent of the The Holy Spirit.(May the Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth. Acts 2)
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven.(God will wipe away all tears and death will be no more. Rev 21:4)
5. Mary is crowned queen of heaven and earth.(Clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars... Rev 12:1)

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Hail, Holy Queen

Related Prayers The Rosary

Hail, holy queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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Prayer to St Michael

St Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Prayer to Our Redeemer

Soul of Chirst, sanctify me;
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me;
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Never permit me to be separated from you. From the evil one protect me, at the hour of death call me, and bid me come to you that with your saints I may praise you forever. Amen

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love commits me here. Ever this day (nitght) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

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Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

Response: And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of god, rest in peace.
Response: Amen.

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Stations of the Cross

(Meditations on the Suffering and Death of Jesus)

At each Station, contemplate the scene and pray a brief, heartfelt prayer.

1. Jesus is condemned to death on the cross.
2. Jesus accepts his cross.
3. Jesus falls the first time.
4. Jesus meets his sorrowful Mother.
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his cross.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.
7. Jesus falls the second time.
8. Jesus meets and speaks to the women of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus falls the third time.
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
12. Jesus dies on the cross.
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross.
14. Jesus is placed in the tomb.

Closing prayer (recalling the Resurrection)