Basic Catholic Prayers

Prayer should become familiar before it becomes complicated. A beginner needs words he can return to each day: in the morning, at night, before confession, before temptation, at the bedside, with children, and in the hour of death.

These prayers give a simple Catholic rule of speech before God. They should be learned slowly and prayed with attention. The words are not magic sounds. They are acts of faith, hope, charity, repentance, honor, petition, and trust.

Quick Prayer List

First Prayers

• The Sign of the Cross
• The Our Father
• The Hail Mary
• The Glory Be
• The Apostles' Creed

Acts And Daily Prayer

• Act of Faith
• Act of Hope
• Act of Charity
• Act of Contrition
• Morning Offering
• Night Prayer

Sacramental Prayer

• Prayer Before Confession
• Prayer Before Holy Communion
• Prayer After Holy Communion

Perseverance And The Dead

• Prayer for Final Perseverance
• Eternal Rest
• De Profundis
• Prayer for a Holy Death

Marian And Rosary Prayer

• Memorare
• Hail Holy Queen
• The Fatima Prayer
• Rosary Prayers
• Mysteries of the Rosary

Short Prayers Throughout The Day

• Jesus, Mercy
• Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Saint Michael the Archangel

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 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.

The 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.

The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The 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 Ghost, 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 Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

I believe that Thy 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 Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Act of Charity

O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all good and worthy of all love.

I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee.

I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.

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 confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day.

I offer them for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the intentions recommended this day. Amen.

Night Prayer

O my God, I thank Thee for all the graces Thou hast given me this day.

I am sorry for all my sins. Keep me safe through the night. Preserve me from evil. Let me rest under Thy protection, and if this night should be my last, grant me the grace to die in Thy friendship. Amen.

Prayer Before Confession

O Holy Ghost, enlighten my mind that I may know my sins.

Move my heart to true sorrow. Help me to confess honestly, without hiding or excusing anything, and give me a firm purpose of amendment. Amen.

Prayer Before Holy Communion

O my Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

I adore Thee. I love Thee. I desire to receive Thee with faith, reverence, humility, and love. Prepare my soul, and do not permit me to receive Thee unworthily. Amen.

Prayer After Holy Communion

O my Jesus, I thank Thee for coming to me.

Remain with me by Thy grace. Strengthen me against sin. Teach me to love Thee more faithfully, to serve Thee more generously, and to belong wholly to Thee. Amen.

Prayer for Final Perseverance

O my God, I ask Thee for the grace of final perseverance.

Do not permit me to die separated from Thee. Keep me in the true faith, preserve me from mortal sin, grant me true repentance, and bring me safely to heaven. Amen.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

De Profundis

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.

Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it?

For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.

My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath 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 plentiful redemption.

And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

Prayer for a Holy Death

O Jesus, grant me the grace to die in Thy friendship.

Preserve me from mortal sin, give me true repentance, strengthen me in the last temptation, and let me depart this life with faith, hope, charity, and confidence in Thy mercy. Amen.

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 do 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.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, 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 valley 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 thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Rosary Prayers

The Rosary is ordinarily prayed with the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer. The soul meditates on the mysteries of the life, Passion, death, and glory of Our Lord while asking the prayers of His Blessed Mother.

The beginner should first learn the prayers. Then he should learn the mysteries. The Rosary is not empty repetition. It is Marian meditation on Christ.

Mysteries of the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation.
2. The Visitation.
3. The Nativity.
4. The Presentation.
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar.
3. The Crowning with Thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.

Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection.
2. The Ascension.
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost.
4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Jesus, Mercy

Jesus, mercy. Mary, help.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

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

See also How Should A Christian Pray?, The Rosary: Memory of the Mysteries and Formation in Christ, and The Family Rosary: Domestic Fidelity Against Dissipation.