Traditional Prayers

 

 

 

 

  
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 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 a 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.

The Act of Hope

O my God relying on your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of all my sins with the help of your grace and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ Our 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 deserving of all my love.  I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You.  I forgive all who has injured me and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured.  Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offended You, my God, who art 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.

Prayer for Our Nation

God Our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care.  You are the rock on which this nation was founded.  You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation's leaders,  Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.  Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing Your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the "culture of death."  Lead us into a new millennium of life.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

The Angelus

Leader: The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Response: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Leader: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Response: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Leader: Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
Response: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Leader: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Response: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 
 
Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
Response: That we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.

Leader: Let us pray:

All:  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. 

Direct, we beg you, O Lord,
our actions by your holy inspirations,
and carry them on by your gracious assistance,
that every prayer and work of ours
may begin always with you.

Prayer for Our Priests

O Almighty Eternal God our Father, look upon the face of Your Son, and
for love of Him Who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests.
Remember O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail
human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in
them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy
of their sublime vocation.

O Jesus, Our Eternal High Priest, I pray:
— for Your faithful and fervent PRIESTS;
— for Your unfaithful and tepid PRIESTS;
— for Your PRIESTS laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields;
— for Your tempted PRIESTS;
— for Your young PRIESTS;
— for Your dying PRIESTS;
— for the souls of Your PRIESTS in Purgatory.

But above all, I commend to You:
— the PRIESTS dearest to me;
— the PRIEST who baptized me;
— the PRIESTS who absolved me from my sins;
— the PRIESTS at whose MASSES I assist;
— the PRIESTS who taught and instructed me about You and Your Holy Scriptures;
— the PRIESTS who helped and encouraged me to accept You as my Lord and Savior;
— and all the PRIESTS whom You sent to touch my life and those of my loved ones.

Let Us Pray For:

The Holy Father: ………………………………….…fill him with Your grace, Lord;
Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops: …..give them your gifts, Lord;
Diocesan Priests: ……………………….…...……..never leave them, Lord;
Priests in seminary work: ………….…...…….give them Your wisdom, Lord;
Priests in hospital work: …………….…...…...give them constancy, Lord;
Priests who are ill: ………………………….……..heal them, Lord;
Priests in danger: …………………………….…….deliver them, Lord;
Priests who are weak: ………….……….…...….strengthen them, Lord;
Priests who are poor: …………….………….…..relieve them, Lord;
Priests who are zealous: ………………….…….help them, Lord;
Priests who want to love You: ………….…...enkindle their hearts, Lord;
Priests who are sad: ………………………….…..console them, Lord;
Priests who are worried: ……………...….......give them peace, Lord;
Priests who are old: ………………….……….…..sustain them, Lord;
Priests who are young: ……………...……...….impel them for your glory, Lord;
Priests who are alone: ……………………….....accompany them, Lord;
Missionary priests: ………………………...........protect them, Lord;
Priests who are preachers: …………...…......enlighten them, Lord;
Priests who direct souls: …………………...… instruct them, Lord;
Parish priests: ……………………………………….make them perfect, Lord;
Priests and religious who have died: …..bring them to Glory, Lord;
All the Church, militant and suffering: Lord, have mercy.

For all Priests:
— Give them Your wisdom, Lord.
— Give them virtues.
— Give them patience and charity.
— Give them obedience and kindness.
— Give them a burning zeal for souls.
— Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.
— Give them loyalty to the Pope and their Bishops.
— Give them respect for their dignity.
— Give them a great love for Mary.
— Give them rectitude for justice.
— Give them the gift of counsel.
— Give them strength in their labors.
— Give them peace in their sufferings.
— Give them humility and generosity.
— Let them be the light of souls.
— Let them be the salt of the earth.
— Let them practice sacrifice and self denial.
— Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.
— Let them be other Christs.
— Let them be holy in body and soul.
— May they be men of prayer.
— May faith shine forth in them.
— May they be faithful to their priestly vocation.
— May their hands know only how to bless.
— May they burn with love for You and for Mary.
— May all their steps be for the glory of God.
— May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them His gifts and fruits in abundance.

Let us pray, O God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit,
You are the soul and the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests.
We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their protector and guide. Amen.

Author: Richard Cardinal Cushing

Prayer for the Archdiocese of Washington

Gracious and Loving God, in this Church of Washington, together with all the People of God, you show forth the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Through the Gospel and the Eucharist, bring your people together in the Spirit and guide us with your grace. Make us a sign of your love for all people, and help us to manifest the living presence of Christ in the world, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

A Prayer for the Intercession of Saint John Paul II

O God, who are  rich in mercy and who willed that Saint John Paul II should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching,  we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole Redeemer of mankind.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Quote:

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.
To one without faith, no explanation is possible."

Author:  St. Thomas Aquinas

Angel of God

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

Memorare

Remember O most compassionate Virgin Mary,
that never was it known,
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intersession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother,
to you do I come,
before you I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy,
hear and answer them.
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, mouring and weeping in this valley of tears; turn then most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Leader:  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

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

Leader:  Let us pray:

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

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 the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for Christ's little ones, and defend them from every evil influence.  Amen.

Prayer for Pope Francis

Leader:  God our Father, source of eternal life and truth, give to Your shepherd, Pope Francis, a spirit of knowledge and love.  By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care may he, as successor to the apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build Your church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.

May You preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

Prayer for our Priests

Leader:  We pray for our priests, that the Almighty Eternal God, our Father, look upon the face of His Son, and for love of Him who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on his priests.

All: Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings.  Stir up in them the grace of their vocation, which is in them by the imposition of the Bishop's hands.  Keep them ever close to You, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of thei sublime vocatioln.

Prayer for our Deacons

Holy God, St. Vincent served You as a permanent Deacon and gave his whole life and soul to You, even to the point of becoming a martyr.  I lift up to You the Deacons of our church, Deacon George and Deacon Steve, and all those who are being called by God to become Deacons.  Guide them as they discern how to serve the Body of Christ.  Prevent the attractions of the world and the busyness of the secular jobs from interfering with their vocations.  Teach them to grow in humility.  Help their families to learn from their examples and support their diaconates with trust and joy.  St. Vincent, pray for us.  Amen.

Prayer for our Seminarians and Brothers

Leader: We lift up to God, our Catholic seminarians and brothers, that through the guiding inspiration of the Most Holy Spiit, that they would know for sure the direction and the mission they are being called by God.

All:  Bless them dear God with the peace, joy and the grace to submit to the flow of Your Spirit.

Prayer for Families

Lord God, from You every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.  Father, You are love and life.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman, and through the Holy Spirit, foiuntain of divine charity, grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love.  Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love.  Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass.  Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the church may faithfully

Prayer to St. Jude

"O most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, people honor and invoke you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, for I am so helpless and alone.   Please help to bring me visible and speedy assistance. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly (state your request) and that I may praise God with you always."