CATHOLIC PRAYERS
The Great Commandment
You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. Based on Luke 10:27
Prayer For Our Troops
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Prayer For Strength
God, I need Your strength, when I am feeling guilty and blaming others for my hurts. Touch my inner being and empower my spirit to correctly assimilate my life. Help me release the unhealthy stuff in my mind. Lift my emotions and enlarge Yourself, the Prince of Peace, in me.
Prayer For Fine Weather
All-powerful and ever-living God, we find security in your forgiveness. Give us the fine weather we pray for, so that we may rejoice in your gifts of kindness, and use them always for your glory and our good. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
A Graduation Prayer
Lord, we gather at this moment to congratulate our graduates. We also gather to challenge them - because this is just one more step in your great purpose: to make life that much sweeter and graceful for one another. by Andrew Costello
Pray with the Church; For All Who Suffer From HIV or AIDS
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, O good and gracious God, You are the God of health and wholeness. In the plan of Your creation, You call us to struggle in our sickness and to cling always to the cross of your Son. O God, we are Your servants. Many of us are now suffering with HIV or AIDS. We come before You, and ask You, if it is Your Holy will, to take away this suffering from us, restore us to health and lead us to know You and Your powerful healing love of body and spirit. We ask you also, to be with those of us who nurse Your sick ones. We are the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and friends of Your suffering people. It is so hard for us to see those whom we love suffer. You know what it is to suffer. Help us to minister in loving care, support, and patience for Your people who suffer with HIV and AIDS. Lead us to do whatever it will take to eradicate this illness from the lives of those who are touched by it, both directly and indirectly. Trusting in You and the strength of Your Spirit, we pray these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen
Prayer for a Rural Family
Bless us, O God, we who live close to the land. Bless us as you blessed Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They, like we, our models in family life knew the struggles, the fears, the joys, and the rewards of life in a rural area. Help us to be aware of the quiet beauty of night, the fresh green growth on trees and all plants, and the songs of birds. We give thanks for all of these. May we always show respect for all of creation. Bless each of us and help us grow in love and unity with you and with each other. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
A Prayer For Families
Lord, make more families.
Unite people that they may be related.
Make them close
that there can be healing and helping
and loving and resting and singing
and eating and drinking
in Your name.
In families
prepare people for the world.
Send them well loved
into a world in need of much love.
Where there is no father or no mother,
make it a family.
Where there is no family room,
no family album,
no uncles and aunts,
let there be a family.
Where there are no birthdays and holidays
and family mealtimes,
bring together enough to make a family.
Make families by love.
May we all belong
somewhere, somehow, to someone.
O Christ, host this place
and make it a home. Amen.
Prayer To Saint John Neumann
Saint John Neumann,
Servant of God and Man,
your desire to bring all souls to Christ
inspired you to leave your family, home and your country.
Ask for us the grace to live worthily in the spirit of our Baptism
so that all our thoughts, words and actions of every day
will bring God our Father greater honor and glory.
Ask for us the graces necessary to help and to serve
the poor, the suffering and the oppressed.
May we live as you lived preserving in every difficulty
to know and to do God's will.
In this life, may we share your intercession,
the protection of Mary and the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.
Prayer for the Intercession of St. John Neumann
O Saint John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our Baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God.
Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and, at times, painful paths of duty, trengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother.
May death still find us on the sure road to our Father's House with the light of living Faith in our hearts. Amen.
Prayer
Place your song in our heart today, and fill us with joy overflowing, we trust that you are working things together perfectly for our good. We are not fair weather servants; we will serve you always and sing your praises when facing good times or bad. Thank you for your faithfulness. We love you with all our hearts. Amen.
A Time to Pray
During these uncertain times, our hearts seek compfort in the things we most cherish - faith,
family and friends. Our concerns are not unknown to God and our needs are not unaccounted for.
His Word assures us that the peace thatultimately matters is ours for the asking: The Load is
near. Do not be anxious about anything, bu in everything, by paryer and petition, with
thanskgiving, present your request to God. And in the peace of God, which transcents all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:5b-7 (NIV)
A Prayer in Time of War
Father, we come to you in the name of our Lord Jesus, to lift up in prayer this present
military action. Father, we pray that there might be a quick resolution to this action that
truth and righteousness would prevail. May You guide, bless and protect all those engaged
in this conflict. Heal the physical and spiritual wounds that me be inflicted. Father, the
gospel of the kingdom must be preached to this nation. I pray that what Satan has intended
and devised to hinder the gospel You will turn to good that the gospel will go into this
nation unimpeded. Let all who hear Your Word turn to You for guidance, courage and hope.
Amen.
adapted from the book "Pray for Our Nation"
Prayer For Vocations
Loving God,
In baptism you gifted me with life and faith.
In a loving community of believers I grow in faith through prayer and service.
Guide me in the path of your son, Jesus.
May your favor be upon me as I seek to be faithful to your call.
Make me an authentic gospel witness.
Remove what hinders me from serving you.
Bless all those who dedicate their lives to you through consecrated life.
May other men and women desire to dedicate their lives to you through poverty, chastity, and obedience.
I offer you this prayer in the name of Jesus through the power of The Holy Spirit. Amen
Prayer For Vocations
Good Shepherd,
You are the one who calls, guides, and keeps us close to you.
May we always listen to your voice calling us to a life dedicated to you.
May we appreciate the gifts you have given us. In turn, may we generously offer ourselves to you through a life of service for your people May we always recognize the gifts of the Spirit alive in everyone.
We join our prayers with those who are participating in the Continental congress for Vocations in North America. We pray for a generous response to your call to service, especially to the ordained and consecrated life.
We offer this prayer through the power of your Spirit. Amen.
The Ten Commandments
- You shall not have gods except me. You shall not make any carved images or worship any other gods.
- You shall not utter the name of Yahweh your God to misuse it.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
- You shall not covet your neighbors wife, or servant; man or woman, or ox, or donkey or anything.
The Ten Commandments: Rules Based On Love
When you think of the Ten Commandments, do you picture a stern schoolteacher or an unsmiling
drill sergeant explaining rules to you? All those "thou shalt nots" can be intimidating at
first. But behind each one is God's love and wisdom. God presented the Ten Commandments to
guide us and protect us from the choices He knows will harm us.
Here are some principles to keep in mind about the Ten Commandments:
- God needs to be your top priority. If you give more time, energy, or attention to anyone or anything else in your life, you cannot live the abundant life that God wants to give you. It's only when you commit yourself completely to God that you invite Him to transform you completely so that you can grow to your fullest potential.
- Remember that you will become like the image you pursue. Who do you want to look like? If you pursue Christ, you'll be transformed more and more into His likeness. If you chase empty images created by society's whims, you'll end up feeling empty and looking impoverished.
- When you take God's name in vain, you're debasing it, because you're treating it much too casually, when it should be spoken with great reverence. God's name has great spiritual power - speaking it actually causes things to happen in the spiritual realms. Using it in a careless way - such as to "damn" a particular person or situation - can set unintended consequences into motion.
- God has designed you to need rest on a regular basis as part of His established rhythm of life. If you don't take a Sabbath break each week, your physical, mental, and spiritual health will suffer. If you do observe the Sabbath by worshipping and reflecting, you'll discover an eternal perspective on all aspects of your life that will help you tremendously the rest of the week.
- Honoring your parents is important; God used them to give you life. If God sees you visit them at inconvenient times (for you) when they need help, call them to express your love, and forgive them for any past mistakes, He will be pleased and decide to bless you as well.
- Most people can't imagine that they would ever murder someone. But when anger goes too far, that tragedy can actually result. And there are more ways to "murder" someone than physically killing that person. Anytime you injure anyone with your words or wish bad things to happen to them, you're committing murder against them in your heart. Take your anger to God and let Him heal your heart.
- Just as with murder, the seeds of adultery are sown in a person's mind. Don't fill your mind with images and experiences of which you know God doesn't approve, and ask God to help you focus your sexual desires on your spouse. Adultery can seem very enticing at times, but it never delivers any true satisfaction. Instead, it will destroy your relationships with God and other people. Remember that love is not feeling - it's an action. Whenever you choose to act in love toward your spouse, feelings of love will eventually result.
- You don't need to steal because God has promised to provide everything you need. And He is a Father who loves to give good gifts to His children. He genuinely cares, and He has your best interests at heart. Decide to trust Him.
- When you speak untrue or unkind words against your neighbors, you're committing injustices that will inflict great harm on people God loves. But when you encourage others with your words, you become a channel through which God's love flows, and the overflow will bless you. Be accountable to God and another person (such as a prayer partner). Spend time regularly worshipping and praising God so there won't be any room in your mind for false or negative words.
- Envy will destroy you. God wants you to have the peace that contentment offers. The strain of constantly wanting something you don't have and the burden of dealing with something you weren't meant to have can rob your life of the joy God intends for you.
The Lord's Prayer
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
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace!
The Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among 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.
Glory Be
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.
Before the Meal
Bless us, O Lord,
and these Thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
After the Meal
We give Thee thanks,
O Almighty God,
for these Thy benefits
which we have received from Thy bounty.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
The Apostles Creed
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;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come 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 life everlasting. Amen.
Angel of God
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Morning Prayer
O Jesus, through the immaculate heart of Mary
I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all our associates,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Morning Prayer
O Jesus, in union with your most precious blood
poured out on the cross and offered in every Mass.
I offer you today my prayers, works, joys, sorrows and sufferings.
For the praise of your holy name
and all the desires of your sacred heart.
For reparation of sins,
the conversion of all sinners,
th union of all Christians,
and our final union with you in heaven. Amen.
The Morning Offering
Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons,
I firmly believe that You are here present;
I adore You with the most profound humility;
I praise You and give You thanks
with all my heart for the favors You have bestowed on me.
Your Goodness has brought me safely to the beginning of this day.
Behold, O Lord,
I offer You my whole being and in particular
all my thoughts, words and actions,
together with such crosses and
contradictions as I may meet with in the course of this day.
Give them, O Lord, Your blessing;
may Your divine Love animate them and
may they tend to the greater honor and glory of Your Sovereign Majesty. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take.
If I should live to future days,
I pray Thee, Lord, to guide my ways. Amen.
Evening Prayer (Children's)
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
See me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
Evening Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God!
Prostrate before Your Divine Majesty,
I adore You with all possible reverence.
I believe and hold for certain
all You have revealed to Your holy church.
I hope in Your infinite goodness and mercy,
and I love You with all my heart. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Great and almighty God!
I kneel before You to thank You with my whole heart
for all the favors which You have bestowed upon me this day;
for my food and drink,
my health and all my powers of body and soul.
I thank You for all Your holy lights and inspirations,
for Your care and protection,
and for all those other mercies which I do not now recall,
or which I do not know how to value as I ought.
I thank You for them all, O heavenly Father.
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
The Act of Contrition
My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments,
but most of all because they offend Thee,
my God, Who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that You
are 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 will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe these and all truths
which the Holy Catholic Church teaches,
because You revealed them,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Act of Hope
O my God, relying on Your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Act of Love
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. Amen.
Prayer to All the Saints
May Holy Mary and all the Saints
intercede for us with the Lord,
that we may worthily be succored and preserved by Him.
Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.
Prayer for the Dead
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Your servants departed
full remission of all their sins,
that through our devout prayers,
they may obtain the pardon,
which they have always desired.
Who live and reign, world without end. Amen.
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord.
(response) And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
(response) Amen.
The Prayer of St. Francis Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
Pardoning that we are pardoned,
And dying to self that we are born unto Eternal life. Amen.
Prayer To The Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you
have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and
always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Angelus
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
"Hail Mary, full of grace...
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done to me according to your word.
"Hall Mary, full of grace...
And the Word was made flesh.
And made his dwelling among us.
"Hail Mary, full of grace...
Pray for us, holy Mother of God
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour out your grace into our hearts, Lord By the message of the angel we have learned
of the Incarnation of Christ, your Son: lead us, by his passion and cross, to the glory
of the resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
The Rosary
- The Apostles' Creed is said on the Crucifix;
- The Lord's Prayer is said on each of the Large Beads;
- The Hail Mary on each of he Small Beads;
- The Glory Be to the Father after the three Hail Mays at the beginning of the Rosary and after each group of Small Beads.
To recite the complete Rosary, one recites 15 decades (or group of ten Hail Mary's), meditating on the corresponding mysteries.
The Rosary beads are made up of 5 decades, so one often prays only one set of mysteries.
The mysteries are as follows:
Joyful Mysteries: (Monday and Saturday)
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of Christ
- The Presentation in the Temple
- The finding of the child Jesus in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries: (Tuesday and Friday)
- The agony in the Garden
- The scourging at the Pillar
- The crowing with Thorns
- The carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries: (Wednesday and Sunday)
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension into Heaven
- The descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
- The crowning of the Blessed Virgin as Universal Queen
The Five Mysteries of Light: (Thursday)
- His Baptism in the Jordan
- His self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana
- His proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion
- His transfiguration
- His institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal mystery
In October 2002, the month of the Holy Rosary, Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, issued a special apostolic letter in which he announced the creation of a new set of Mysteries to be used in praying the Rosary.
Our Holy Father states: "The Rosary clearly belongs to the kind of veneration of the Mother of God described by the Second Vatican Council: a devotion directed to the Christological center of the Christian faith, in such a way that when the Mother is honored, the Son...is duty known, loved and glorified." The new Mysteries center around decisive events in the life of Christ. Our Holy Father calls them "The Mysteries of Light" because Christ in his public life manifests himself as the "Mystery of Light."