Prayers
Lord's prayer "Our Father" » and "Hail Mary" »
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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
Prayer before Study or Instructions
Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: deign, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understanding, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those who lack utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls. Amen.
Prayer for Students
Under thy patronage, dear Mother, and calling on the mystery of thine Immaculate Conception, I desire to pursue my studies and my literary labors: I hereby solemnly declare that I am giving myself to these studies chiefly to the following end: that I may the better contribute to the glory of God and to the promotion of thy veneration among men. I pray thee, therefore, most loving Mother, who art the Seat of Wisdom, to bless my labors in thy loving-kindness. Moreover I promise with true affection and a willing spirit, as it is right that I should do, to ascribe all the good that shall come to me therefrom, wholly to thine intercession for me in God's holy presence. Amen.
A Prayer for Friends
I pray for you - No matter what you do wrong
I pray for you - Because we can never stay mad for long
I pray for you - Because you were the one who was always there
I pray for you - For all the joys and times we've shared
I pray for you - Because through it all you saw me for me
I pray for you - Because without you only God knows where I'd be
I pray for you - Because they say one good friend is all you need
I pray for you - Because you saw what others failed to see
I pray for you - Because even when times are tough true friends never leave
And I pray for you - Because without real friends life is never quite complete.
Amen.
Send forth your Spirit, O Lord
and teach us how to pray,
so that we may learn
to know you more clearly,
to love you more dearly,
to follow you more nearly,
every day. Amen
St Richard of Chichester
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Don't count sheep
When nights are long and sleep won't come,
and you toss and turn in bed,
Don't waste you time counting sheep,
Talk to the shepherd instead.
This time when all around is still,
No one who will disturb,
As in silence to the Lord you come,
You know you will be heard.
Those things that have been on your
mind, the worry and the care,
Now in the stillness of the night,
Bring them to God in prayer.
So do not fret when you can't sleep, or worry about next day,
Draw near to God and peace will come, when you use this time to pray.
An Act of Thanksgiving for the Blessings of the Past Year
O God, the beginning and the end of all things, Who art always the same, and Whose years fail not, we now, at the close of another year, kneel in adoration before Thee, and offer Thee our deepest thanks for the fatherly care with which Thou has watched over us during the past, for the many times Thou hast protected us from evils of soul and body, and for the numberless blessings, both temporal and spiritual, which Thou hast showered upon us. May it please Thee to accept the homage of our grateful hearts which we offer Thee in union with the infinite thanksgiving of Thy divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year
O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
The Five Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation: Humility
- The Visitation: Charity
- The Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world
- The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience
- The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety
The Five Luminous Mysteries
- The Baptism in the Jordan
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sins
- The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our senses
- The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortification
- The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crosses
- The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselves
The Five Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection: Conversion of heart
- The Ascension: A desire for heaven
- The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
- The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary
- The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happiness
Angelus - Regina Caeli
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
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 in the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh:
R. And dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. 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.
Regina Caeli
O Queen of heaven rejoice! alleluia:
For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia,
Hath arisen as he said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray.
O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for peace
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;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may seek not so much
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.
Amen.
Francis
Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Sub Tuum præsidium
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
