Why We Pray
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2559) states, “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”
Prayer can be calling upon God for assistance. God desires closeness with us, an intimate relationship. Prayer is communication with God that allows our relationship with Him to develop and grow.
Different Types of Prayers
Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Our Father
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.
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 (Doxology) - Traditional Wording
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.
Glory Be - Liturgy of the Hours
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be forever. Amen
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation,
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit.
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
and became man.
For our sake, he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate, he suffered death
and was buried, and rose again
on the third day in accordance
with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead and his
kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and
the life of the world to come.
Amen.
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; on the third day,
he rose again from the dead.
he ascended into heaven, and is
seated at the right hand of God,
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 saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
Confiteor
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have
greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of
the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O 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 art 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 occasion of sin.
Amen.
Act of Contrition (Alternate Version)
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 Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.
Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give thee thanks, for all thy benefits, Almighty God, who live and reigns for ever.
(And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.) Amen.
An 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 the truths which the
Holy Catholic Church teaches because
you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive not be deceived.
In this faith, I intend to live and die.
Amen.
An Act of Hope
O Lord God, I hope by your grace
for the pardon of all my sins,
and after life here, to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it who are
infinitely powerful, faithful, kind and merciful.
In this hope, I intend to live and die. Amen.
An Act of Love
O Lord God, I love you above all things,
and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest,
the infinite, and perfect good,
worthy of all my love.
In this love, I intend to live and die. Amen.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys,
and sufferings of the day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of
the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the
reparation for sins, the reunion of
all Christians,
and in particular, for the intentions
of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.
Prayer for Peace (Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi)
Lord, make me an instrument of your 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; and
where there is sadness, joy.
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,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection against the
wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
by the Power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil
spirits who wander the earth, seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Prayer to one's Guardian Angel
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.