Catholic devotions

Catholic prayers

Traditional prayers of the Catholic Church

These are the prayers Catholics have learned by heart for generations: the Our Father and the Hail Mary, the Morning Offering, the Angelus, the Memorare, Hail, Holy Queen, the prayer to St. Michael, the Litany of Loreto, and the Stations of the Cross. They are given here in full, in their traditional forms.

Every day

The Sign of the Cross

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

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.

The Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the most pure Heart of Mary, I offer thee all the prayers, works, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of thy Divine Heart. Amen.

The Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity

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.

O my God, relying on thy infinite goodness 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.

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

Come, Holy Ghost

Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of thy love.

O God, who by the light of the Holy Ghost didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. 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 Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in his Angels and in his Saints.

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. Suffer me not to be separated from thee. From the malicious enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to thee, that with thy Saints I may praise thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of penitence

The Confiteor

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

An 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.

At meals

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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers to Our Lady

The Angelus

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.

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.

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.

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.

Regina Caeli (in Eastertide)

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For he whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia, hath risen, as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world through the resurrection of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech thee, that through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The 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.

We fly to thy patronage

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Divine Mercy

The Three O'Clock Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on rosary beads, is in the MyOratory app.

The angels and the saints

Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defence 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 the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and through the paternal love with which thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us, and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and as once thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

The Litany of Loreto

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Stations of the Cross

At each station:

The First Station. Jesus is condemned to death.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Second Station. Jesus takes up his Cross.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Third Station. Jesus falls the first time.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Fourth Station. Jesus meets his Mother.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Fifth Station. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry his Cross.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Sixth Station. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Seventh Station. Jesus falls the second time.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Eighth Station. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Ninth Station. Jesus falls the third time.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Tenth Station. Jesus is stripped of his garments.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Eleventh Station. Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Twelfth Station. Jesus dies on the Cross.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Thirteenth Station. Jesus is taken down from the Cross.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

The Fourteenth Station. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Pause in silence; then pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

Lord Jesus Christ, by your Passion and Cross you have redeemed the world. Have mercy on us, and bring us with you to the glory of your Resurrection. Amen.

Pray at the hours

Morning prayersThe Angelus at noonEvening prayersNight prayers

Traditional Catholic prayers in their public-domain forms.

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