Prayers

PRAYER – TALKING WITH GOD AND HIS SAINTS
One of the most important activities for a Catholic is prayer. Without it there can be no true spiritual life.
Through personal prayer and the communal prayer of the Church, especially the Mass, we worship and praise God, we express sorrow for our sins and we intercede on behalf of others (1 Tim. 2:1–4).

Through prayer we grow in our relationship with Christ and with members of God’s family (CCC 2663–2696).
This family includes all members of the Church, whether on earth, in heaven, or in purgatory. Since Jesus has only one body, and since death has no power to separate us from Christ (Rom. 8:3–8),Christians who are in heaven or who, before entering heaven, are being purified in purgatory by God’s love (1 Cor. 3:12–15) are still part of the Body of Christ (CCC 962).Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 22:39).

Those in heaven love us more intensely than they ever could have loved us while on earth. They pray for us constantly (Rev. 5:8), and their prayers are powerful (Jas. 5:16, CCC 956, 2683, 2692).
Our prayers to the saints in heaven, asking for their prayers for us, and their intercession with the Father do not undermine Christ’s role as sole Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).
In asking saints in heaven to pray for us we follow Paul’s instructions: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,” for “this is good and pleasing to God our Saviour” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).

All members of the Body of Christ are called to help one another through prayer (CCC 2647). Mary’s prayers are especially effective on our behalf because of her relationship with her Son (John 2:1–11).
God gave Mary a special role (CCC 490–511, 963– 975). He saved her from all sin (Luke 1:28, 47), made her uniquely blessed among all women (Luke 1:42), and made her a model for all Christians (Luke 1:48). At the end of her life he took her, body and soul, into heaven—an image of our own resurrection at the end of the world (Rev. 12:1–2).
Top of page

Angel of God
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love entrusts me here. Ever this day be at my side; to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Top of page

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 arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven; sits 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 the life everlasting.Amen.
Top of page

Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Top of page

Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux 
Top of page

Prayer for Vocations
God our Father, in baptism you called us by name and made us members of your people, the Church. We praise you for your goodness, we thank you for your gifts. Father, bless your Church with love. Raise up dedicated and generous leaders from our families and from our friends who will serve as sisters, priests and brothers. Send your Spirit to guide and strengthen those you are calling to serve your people, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we offer this prayer. Amen.
Top of page

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.
Top of page

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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.
Top of page

Night Prayer
Hear us, Lord, and send your angel from heaven,To visit and protect, to comfort and defend,All who live in this house.
Top of page

Prayer of Reconciliation
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.
Top of page

Prayer of Reconciliation II
God and Father of us all, You have forgiven our sins and sent us your peace. Help us to forgive each other and to work together to establish peace in the world.
Top of page

Prayer of Confession
I confess to almighty God,and to you my bothers and sisters,that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and 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.
Top of pa

Prayer Before Meals (Grace)
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts,Which we are about to receive from thy bounty;through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Top of page

Profession of Faith
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unsee
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven:
All bow at the following words up to: “and became man.”
By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again, in fulfilment of 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.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Top of page

Regina Coeli
Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia,Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia,Resurrexit, Sicut dixit, Alleluia.Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia. 

Regina Coeli English Translation: Queen of heaven
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia:For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia,Has risen, as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Top of page

Salve Regina
Salve Regina (Mater) misericordiae, Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae; Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrymarum valle.
Eia ergo advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O Clemens, O pia, O dulcis (Virgo) Maria. 

Salve Regina English Translation: Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.
Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of they womb, Jesus.
Oh clement, Oh loving, Oh sweet Virgin Mary.
Top of page

Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Top of page

The Angelus 
The Angelus is traditionally recited morning (6:00 a.m.), noon and evening (6:00 p.m.) throughout the year except during Paschal time, when the Regina Coeli is recited instead.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, etc.
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 among 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.
Top of page

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 leave us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Top of page