Prayers and Devotions of the Catholic Faith

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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 Glory Be (Doxology)

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.

The Apostle’s 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 he body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, 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 shall renew the face of the earth.

O God, You instructed the hearts of those who believed in You by the light o the Holy Spirit. Grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments (the loss of heaven and the pains of hell), but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love, I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. 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 the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because You have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy 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. Amen.

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 neighbour as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God

Blessed be His Holy Name

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be Jesus, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception

Blessed be her glorious Assumption.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and mother.

Blessed be St Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

Blessed be God, in His angels and in His saints.

The Stations of the Cross

1. Jesus is condemned to death

2. Jesus takes up His Cross

3. Jesus falls the First time.

4. Jesus meets His mother.

5. Simon of Cyrene helps to carry the cross of Jesus

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

7. Jesus falls the Second time.

8. Jesus comforts the women of Jerusalem.

9. Jesus falls the third time.

10. Jesus is stripped of his garments.

11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross

12. Jesus dies on the Cross.

13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross.

14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Prayer before a Crucifix

Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Your Face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech You to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David your prophet said of You, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones.”

De Profundis

Out of the depths, I have cried unto You, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If you ,O Lord, will mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand? For with You, there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of Your law, I have waited for You, O Lord. My soul has relied on His word; my soul has hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night; let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord, there is mercy: and with Him plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

The Jesus Prayer

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

The 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 Thy wounds, hide me.

Permit me not to be separated from Thee.

From the wicked, defend me.

At the hour of death, call me

And bid me come to Thee,

That with all the saints, I may praise Thee

Forever and ever. Amen.

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys and  sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

I offer them for the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of  souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians.

I offer them for the intentions of our bishops, and of all apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father. Amen.

Blessing Before Meals

Bless us, O Lord, and these your  gifts, which we are about to receive from Your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grace after meals

We give you thanks for Your benefits, O Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Corporal works of Mercy

Feed the hungry

Give drink to the thirsty

Clothe the Naked

Visit the Imprisoned

Shelter the Homeless

Visit the Sick

Bury the Dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Admonish the Sinner

Instruct the Ignorant

Counsel the Doubtful

Comfort the Sorrowful

Bear the wrongs patiently

Forgive All Injuries

Pray for the Living and the Dead

Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God’s love commits he here.

Ever this day be at my side,

To light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

St Michael, the Archangel

Saint 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 you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Prayer of St Ignatius Loyola

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given men: I surrender it all to Your  love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. Amen.

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Make me, O Lord, 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 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 pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Serenity Prayer

God,  grant 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. Amen.

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall gently upon your field,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Amen.

Popular Prayers for the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail Mary (Ave Maria)

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.

The Five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Anunciation (Lk 1.28)

2. The Visitation (Lk 1.42)

3. The Birth of  Our Lord ( Lk 2.7)

4. The Presentation  of our Lord (Lk 2.28)

5. The Finding of our Lord in the Temple (Lk 2.46)

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Agony in the Garden (Mark 14.35)

2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Mark  15.15)

3. The Crowning with Thorns (Mark 15.17)

4. The Carrying  of the Cross (John 19.17)

5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord (Luke 23.33)

The Five Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Resurrection (Mk 16.6)

2. The Ascension (Mk 16.19)

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.4)

4. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven (Gen 3.15)

5. The Coronation of our Blessed Mother (Rev 12.1)

The Five Mysteries of Light

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan

2. Jesus’ self manifestation at the Wedding in Cana

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

4. The Transfiguration

5. The Institution of the Eucharist