Prayer
Standard Catholic prayers, the Rosary, the Divine Office, and a place to bring your own intentions and carry others’ in prayer.
Prayer is “the raising of one’s mind and heart to God” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 2559
Standard Catholic Prayers
The prayers every Catholic carries by heart — good to know, and good to teach.
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 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.
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.
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will 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 life everlasting. Amen.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. 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 (Salve Regina)
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.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. 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, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Guardian Angel Prayer
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. 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. Be it 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.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
How to Pray the Rosary
A meditation on the life of Christ, prayed through Mary's eyes, one decade at a time.
Begin with the Sign of the Cross, then pray the Apostles' Creed on the crucifix.
Pray one Our Father on the first large bead.
Pray three Hail Marys on the next three beads, for an increase of faith, hope, and charity.
Pray the Glory Be.
Announce the First Mystery, then pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys (a "decade"), and a Glory Be while meditating on that mystery.
Many also add the Fatima Prayer after each decade: "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."
Repeat for all five mysteries, then close with the Hail, Holy Queen and the Sign of the Cross.
Which Mysteries, When
Joyful Mysteries
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Nativity
- The Presentation
- The Finding in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries
- The Agony in the Garden
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion
Glorious Mysteries
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mary
- The Coronation of Mary
Luminous Mysteries
- The Baptism of Jesus
- The Wedding at Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Eucharist
The Divine Office
The Liturgy of the Hours "permeates and transfigures the time of each day" — the Church's own rhythm of praise, prayed by clergy, religious, and laypeople alike, marking the hours from sunrise to night.
Praying even one hour a day — Morning or Evening Prayer take about 15 minutes — is a beautiful way to join your day to the whole Church's prayer.
iBreviary
Free web and mobile app matching the American breviary translation, in English, Latin, and several other languages.
Visit ibreviary.com →Universalis
Free online, using the Jerusalem Bible translation (a different translation than the American breviary) — clean, reliable, and easy to navigate day to day.
Visit universalis.com →"This celebration, faithful to the apostolic exhortation to 'pray constantly,' is 'so devised that the whole course of the day and night is made holy by the praise of God.'" — Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 1174
Submit a Prayer Request
Share what's on your heart — for yourself, a family member, or a friend. Our office reviews every request before it's added to the parish's prayer list below, so you can share as much or as little detail as you're comfortable with.
Requests submitted here are also remembered by name at Mass and in the bulletin's "Please Pray For" list, unless you ask us to keep it private.
Prayer requests submitted by close of business Wednesday will be included in that weekend's bulletin.