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Traditional Prayers

Overview


There is a rich treasury of prayers in the Catholic Tradition, which may be prayed with others or alone. The ‘Our Father’ is the prayer Jesus taught us (Matthew 6:9-15, Luke 11:1-4). Prayers such as the Sign of the Cross, Hail Mary, Glory be and the Angelus, have strong roots in Scripture. The origins of other much loved prayers may be traced through history. There are also prayer forms, such as ‘The Rosary’ which combine well known prayers.

Prayers

TRADITIONAL PRAYERS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Sign of the Cross
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
 
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 you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your 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.
 
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the most pure heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your divine heart.
Amen.
 
Family prayer while gathered for a meal
Lord, we thank you for the blessings of this day and for this time together as family.
We thank you for this wonderful meal and for this time we share.
Help us to remember those who have so much less than we do.
Bless us as a family.
Help us to grow in love and care for each other.
We ask you to comfort and give strength and peace
to those who are sick or struggling in any way.
Amen
 
Grace before meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts which we are about to receive from Your bounty through Christ our Lord.  Amen
 
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, 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.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from you.
From the evil enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
and bid me to come to you .
That with your saints I may praise you
for ever and ever.
Amen.
 
Memorare of St Bernard
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that never was it known in any age,
that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help,
or sought your intercession was abandoned.          
Inspired with this confidence, we turn to thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother.
 
To thee we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful.
Do not, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise my prayers,
but graciously hear and answer them . Amen.
 
The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.           Hail Mary,...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord
R. Let it be done unto me according to thy word.           Hail Mary,…
V. And the Word was made flesh
R. And dwelt among us.           Hail Mary,...
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.
 
Come, Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle 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.
 
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am sorry that I have sinned against you, because you are so good, and by the help of Your grace, I will not sin again.
Amen
 
Prayer for Serenity
O God, give me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
 
The Regina Caeli
Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia!
For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!
Has risen as He said, Alleluia!
Pray for us to God, Alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, Alleluia!
Let us pray
O God, who hast given joy to the whole world
through the Resurrection of They Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;
grant that through the prayers of His Virgin Mother Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
 
Salve Regina
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy!
Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us
and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
 
Peace Prayer of St. Francis
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 despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy;
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;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Rosary


How to Pray the Rosary Click here 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

(Paragraph numbers for the Catechism are shown - Click the Nos section to view)

THE LORD'S PRAYER   Nos 2759-2760
The Lord’s Prayer is a summary of the whole Gospel No 2761, Nos 2762-2764, Nos 2765-2766,
The Lord’s Prayer in the life of the Church  Nos 2767-2772
IN BRIEF  No 2773-2776 

COMMENTARY ON THE LORD’S PRAYER  Nos 2777-2778, Nos 2779-2785
 "Our" Father  Nos 2786-2793
"Who Art in Heaven"  Nos 2794-2796
IN BRIEF Nos 2797-2802
SEVEN PETITIONS IN THE LORD’S PRAYER Nos 2803-2806
"Hallowed be Thy Name"  Nos 2807-2815
"Thy Kingdom Come"  Nos 2816-2821
"Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It is in Heaven"  Nos 2822-2827
"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"  Nos 2828-2837
"And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us"  Nos 2838-2845
"And Lead Us not into Temptation"  Nos 2846-2854
The Final Prayer (‘Doxology‘) Nos 2855-2856
IN BRIEF  Nos 2857-2865