Prayers
Act of Contrition
Oh 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 have offended Thee, my God, who art all good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve by the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, who are infallible Truth and can neither deceive nor be deceived, I firmly believe all that you have revealed and propose to my belief through your holy Church, because you have revealed it. I believe that you are one in nature and three in Persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that you are the Creator of all things and that you reward the just for all eternity in heaven and punish the wicked for all eternity in hell. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God made man, that he suffered and died for my sins and rose from the dead in glory, and that it is only in him through the Holy Spirit that eternal life is given to men. I believe in fine all that your holy Church believes. I thank you for having called me to the true faith, and I protest that with the help of your grace I will live and die in this holy faith.
Act of Hope
O my God, trusting in your promises and because you are faithful, powerful and merciful, I hope, through the merits of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of my sins, final perseverance and the blessed glory of heaven.
Act of Love
O my God, because you are infinite goodness and worthy of infinite love, I love you with my whole heart above all things, and for love of you I love my neighbor as myself. I forgive all who have offended me and ask pardon of all whom I have offended.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heave, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Blessing at Bedtime
Make a little cross on your child’s forehead at bedtime. Then say this blessing from Scripture:
The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly,
and give you peace! (Nm 6:24-26)The Doxology
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.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these you gifts, which we are about to receive, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give you thanks, for these and all your gifts, which we have received, through Christ, Our Lord. 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 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 Memorare
Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee 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.
Night Prayers
God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me. 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.
O my God, I thank you for having preserved me today and for having given me so many blessings and graces. I renew my dedication to you and ask your pardon for all my sins.
(Make a short review of the day, briefly recalling with gratitude the good things that have happened, and repenting in sincere sorrow the sins you have committed.)
Acts of faith, hope, love and contrition may now be made.
Many saints have had the practice of adding three “Hail Mary’s” here in honor of Mary’s purity for the grace of a chaste and holy life. Many monasteries have the custom of ending Night Prayers with the Hail, Holy Queen.
Prayer Before an Operation
Loving Father, I entrust myself to Your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of those who minister in Your name; and grant that every cause of illness being removed, I may be restored to soundness of health and learn to live in more perfect harmony with You and with my fellow man, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Into Your hands I commend my body and my soul. Amen.
Prayer After an Operation
Blessed Savior, I thank You that this operation is safely past, and now I rest in Your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of Your healing life into every part of my being; in moments of pain I turn to You for strength, in times of loneliness, I feel Your loving nearness; and then grant that Your life and love and joy may flow through me for the healing of others in Your name. Amen.
Prayer Before Reconciliation
Come Holy Spirit into my soul. Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess, and grant me Your grace to confess them fully, humbly and with contrite heart. Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again.
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of my Redeemer, mirror of innocence and sanctity, and refuge of penitent sinners, intercede for me through the Passion of Your Son, that I may obtain the grace to make a good confession.
All you blessed Angels and Saints of God, pray for me, a most miserable sinner, that I may repent from my evil ways, that my heart may henceforth be forever united with yours in eternal love. Amen.
Prayer After Reconciliation
My dearest Jesus, I have told all my sins to the best of my ability. I have sincerely tried to make a good confession and I know that you have forgiven me.
Thank you, dear Jesus!
Your divine heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners. I love You, dear Jesus; You are so good to me.
My loving Saviour, I shall try to keep from sin and to love You more each day.
Dearest Mother Mary, pray for me and help me to keep all of my promises. Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin.
Dear God, help me to lead a good life. Without Your grace I can do nothing. Amen.
Prayer for Deacons and other Ministers
Heavenly Father, since the time of the Apostles you have inspired the Church to commission certain members to assist in a special way in the pastoral mission of Christ. Bless the deacons and all other ordained and non-ordained ministers that they may be humble and faith-inspired in their service. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Growing
With each new day that dawns I am growing up, O Lord. It’s not too soon to start thinking of what I want to be. It’s very hard, I think, to make the right decision but I pray that you will help and guide me. Show me what to do, let me share, someday, my talents where they’re needed. And when you show me, give me courage to be generous enough to do what you want. Amen.
Prayer for Healing
Lord, look upon me with the eyes of Your mercy, may Your healing hand rest upon me, may Your life-giving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength for service in Your Kingdom. Amen.
Prayer for Priests
Heavenly Father, bless and protect priests and fill them with the joy and courage of their vocation as personal ministers of Christ in preaching your word, forming communities in your name and nourishing us with the Sacraments. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Religious Priests, Brothers and Sister
Heavenly Father, in your wisdom you have called certain women and men to a life of special consecration so that in prayerful observance of a lifestyle of poverty, chaste celibacy and obedience, they might be witnesses to us that as St. Paul says, “our true citizenship is in heaven.” Give them, Lord , the grace of joy and perseverance in their holy vocation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Church
Heavenly Father, look upon our community of faith which is the Church of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to witness to his love by loving all our fellow creatures without exception. under the leadership of the Holy Father and the Bishops keep us faithful to Christ’s mission of calling all men and women to your service so that there may be “one fold and one shepherd.” We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Family
Heavenly Father, we are reminded by the Second Vatican Council that our family is a domestic Church where family prayer and mutual affection pay you special worship. Help us to be a family of love, support, forgiveness and courage, equal to the joys and sorrows of life. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Pope
Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to Your shepherd, the Pope, a spirit of courage and right judgement, 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.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for the Bishop
God, eternal shepherd, you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love. You have chosen your servant, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, to be a shepherd of your flock. Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he build your Church as a sign of salvation for the world.
Prayer for Vocations
Heavenly Father, bless your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters.
Give those you have called to the married state and those you have chosen to live as single persons in the world, the special graces that their lives require.
Form us all in the likeness of your Son so that in him, with him and through him we may love you more deeply and serve you more faithfully, always and everywhere.
With Mary we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer in Sorrow
God of all consolation, in your unending love and mercy for us, you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life. Show compassion to your people in sorrow. Be our refuge and our strength to lift us from the darkness of this grief to peace and joy in your presence. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer in Time of Need
Heavenly Father, in my present need, help e to believe that you are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust you and put the present and future in your hands. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
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, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer to Know One's Vocation
Lord Jesus, up until now you have been quietly preparing me to be your disciple. Now the time of preparation is ending. I seem to hear you say to me, as once to Peter: “Will you also go away?”
You were saddened then by friends who failed you. But Peter did not fail. “Lord,” he said, “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
I stand with Peter. Through prayer and counsel, show me, Lord, where it is in your vineyard that you want me to serve. Then give me strength to be faithful.
Mary, Mother and Model, help me to respond in generous love to the call of your divine Son. Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
O God, in your wonderful providence You were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother. Grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate on earth as our protector. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
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, Holy Mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.