Introduction
Prayers can take many forms. They can be free form or scripted. When asked how we should pray, Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer. It is a scripted prayer like many of those that have been crafted and handed down through generations. Here you will find the essential prayers. Use us as a reference, but do consider committing these to memory.
Contents
- Morning Offering
- Act of Faith
- Act of Hope
- Act of Charity
- Prayer Before Work
- Prayer Before a Meal
- Prayer After a Meal
The Essential Prayers
Before any public prayer, it is customary to invite those present and signify the start of a prayer with the following:
Let us Pray…
The Sign of the Cross
The Sign of the Cross is a good prayer for the start of a day or when we need strength through temptation. It is also the entrance to many other prayers.
English
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Latin
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Given to us by our Lord, Jesus, this prayer sets seven petitions before God.
English
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 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. Amen.
Latin
Pater noster, qui es in cælis: santificétur nomen tuum; advéniat regnum tuum; fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie; et dimitte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris; et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem; sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.
The Hail Mary
Built from the greeting by the angel Gabriel and other versus from the Holy Bible, this prayer petitions Mary as Mother of God entrusting ourselves to her prayer
English
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Latin
Ave, María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum; benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
The Glory Be (The Doxology)
Christ commanded the Apostles to baptize in the form of this prayer.
English
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.
Latin
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítu Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.
Guardian Angel Prayer
Prayer for support from your guardian angel
English
Guardian Angel, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, forever be by my side, to light and guard, rule and guide. Amen.
Latin
Angele Dei, qui custos es mei, me tibi commíssum pietáte supérna illúmina, custódi, rege et gubérna. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
The Apostles Creed captures the core beliefs of the Catholic Church
English
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Latin
Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ.
Et in Iesum Christum, Fílium eius únicum, Dóminum nostrum: qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifixus, mórtuus, et sepúltus; descéndit ad ínferos; tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis; ascéndit ad cælos; sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis; inde ventúrus est iudicáre vivos et mórtuos.
Credo in Spíritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclésiam Cathólicam, Sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.
Salve, Regina
Said after the most holy rosary
English
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning, and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the bless fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Leader: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Latin
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae; vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac laacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
Other Important Prayers
The following are important basic prayers.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in thanksgiving for your favors, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are the one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths that the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Act of Charity
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Act of Spiritual Communion
Recited if unable to permit mass
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there, and I unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you.
Prayer Before Work
Direct, we beg you, O Lord, our actions by your holy inspirations, and grant that we may carry them out with your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with you, and through you be happily ended. Amen.
Prayer Before a Meal
Bless us oh, Lord, for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, through thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer After a Meal
May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.