Catholic Prayers

Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church

Catholic Prayers

The Sign of the Cross
The Lord's Prayer
The Hail Mary
The Angelus
The Jesus Prayer
The Divine Praises
A Universal Prayer
Act of Contrition
A Night Prayer
A Blessing for a House
A Blessing Before Meals
A Blessing After Meals
Prayer of St. Francis
Mysteries of the Rosary
Prayer of St. Efrem the Syrian

The Sign of the Cross.
This prayer is not so much the words as it is the sign. We make it by touching our forehead, breast, left and right shoulders, or by making a small cross with the thumb on the forehead, mouth, and/or heartm while saying:

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

When signing the lips:
Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by 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
The first 4 lines of this prayer come from the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation. The fifth line is from the salutation of Elizabeth to Mary at the Visitation.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you!
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death, Amen.


The Angelus
This prayer is prayed in the morning, when you get up, at noon, and at the end of the work day, traditionally 6 AM, 12 Noon, and 6 PM. If prayed by more than one person, one person leads and the others respond.

L. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary. . .

L. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary. . .

L. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary. . .

L. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

L. 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.


The Jesus Prayer
This short prayer is prayed repetitively. Sometimes people say the first line while breathing in, and the last line while breathing out.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.


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 his most precious blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great mother of God, mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and immaculate conception.
Blessed be her glorious assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother.
Blessed be Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed God in his angels and in his saints.


A Universal Prayer
For peace from on high and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayer.
For the welfare of all churches and for the unity of the human family, let us pray . . .
For Francis our pope, Paul our archbishop, and Fr. Bird our pastor, and for all ministers of the gospel, let us pray . . .
For nations and govenments and for all who serve them, let us pray . . .
For this city and for every city and community and for all who live in them, let us pray. . .
For the good earth which God has given us and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray. . .
For the safety of travelers, the recovery of the sick, the care of the destitute, and the release of prisoners, let us pray. . .
For an angel of peace to guide and protect us, let us pray.. .
For a peaceful evening and a night free from sin, let us pray. . .


Act of Contrition
I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary every-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.


A Night Prayer
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake;
watch over us as we sleep,
that awake, we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep, rest in his peace.


A Blessing for a House
Visit this house, we beg you, lord,
and banish from it the deadly power of the evil one.
May your holy angels dwell here to keep us in peace,
and may your blessing be always upon us.

Hear us, lord, and send your angel from heaven
to visit and protect, to comfort and defend,
all who live in this house.


A Blessing Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive
from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen.


A Blessing After Meals
Blessed be the Lord
of whose bounty we have received
and by whose goodness we live.


Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


Mysteries of the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation of the Lord to Mary
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
The Presentation of our Lord
Finding Jesus in the Temple at age 12

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Agony of Jesus in the Garden
The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Jesus Carried the Cross
The Crucifixion of our Lord

Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven
The Descent of the Holy Ghost
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Mary is Crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
The Baptism in the Jordan
The Wedding at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist


Prayer of St. Efrem the Syrian
O Lord and Master of my life,
keep me from the spirit of indifference and discouragement,
lust of power and idle chatter.
Instead, grant to me, your servant,
the spirit of wholeness of being,
humble-mindedness, patience, and love.
O Lord and King,
grant me the grace to be aware of my sins,
and not to judge my brother;
for you are blessed now and forever, Amen.