Other Common Prayers
Explore the collection of some other common prayers for your daily life’s spiritual strength and motivation.
Name of Prayers
The Magnificat (The Song of Mary)
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior,
for he has looked on the
humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all
generations will call
me blessed, for he who
is mighty has done
great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for
those who fear him
from generation
to generation.
He has shown strength
with his arm,
he has scattered the proud
in the thoughts of
their hearts,
he has brought down the
mighty from their thrones
and exalted those
of humble estate,
he has filled the hungry
with good things,
and the rich he has
sent away empty.
He has helped his
servant Israel,
in remembrance of his
mercy, as he spoke
to our fathers,
to Abraham and to
his offspring forever.
Amen.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious
Virgin Mary, that never
was it known that anyone
who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or
sought your intercession
was left unaided. Inspired
by this confidence, I fly unto
you, 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 me.
Amen.
Salve Regina (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.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
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.
Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most lovable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion,
pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without
original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into
heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most
Holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of families, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
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 gladness, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of Saint 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.
Amen.
Prayer of Saint Augustine (Breathe in Me)
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy.
Amen.
Prayer of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you
are exactly where you are
meant to be.
May you not forget the
infinite possibilities that are
born of faith.
May you use those gifts that
you have received,
and pass on the love that
has been given to you.
May you be content knowing
you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into
your bones,
and allow your soul the
freedom to sing, dance,
praise, and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Amen.
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Before Study)
Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
deign to let a ray of Your brilliance
penetrate into the
darkness of my understanding
and take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a sharp sense
of understanding,
a retentive memory,
and the ability to master languages.
Grant me success in my studies,
the method and ease to learn,
and grace to be thorough
in my expression.
Give me direction at the beginning,
progress in the way,
and perfection at the completion.
You who are true God and true man,
living and reigning forever and ever.
Amen.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a powerful prayer of intercession, traditionally prayed using standard rosary beads. It is often recited at 3:00 PM (the Hour of Great Mercy) or anytime as a plea for God’s mercy upon us and the whole world.
1. Opening Prayers
(Optional: You can begin with three opening prayers that Jesus requested of St. Faustina)
Opening: You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
Ejaculation (Repeat 3 times): O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!
Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed.
2. On the Large Beads (The Our Father Beads)
For each of the five decades, on the single large bead where you would normally say the Our Father, pray:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
3. On the Small Beads (The Hail Mary Beads)
For each of the ten small beads in a decade, pray:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
4. Concluding Doxology (Repeat 3 times at the end of all 5 decades)
After completing all five decades, conclude by reciting three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
5. Closing Prayer (Optional)
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.
The Prayer of Surrender
Lord, I surrender my life to You.
Take my-will, my thoughts,
my hopes, and my fears.
Shape me, mold me,
and guide my steps.
May Your will be done in
my life today and always,
knowing that I am safely
held in Your hands.
Amen.
The Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis)
Opening Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with love unutterable. I have so many times ungratefully sinned against You, but now I love You with all my heart, and because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever having offended You. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey.
First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how Jesus Christ, after being scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.
Prayer: My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate, but my sins, that condemned You to death. I beseech You, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul on its journey to eternity. I love You, Jesus, my love above all things; I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always, and then do with me what You will.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Second Station: Jesus Takes His Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how Jesus, in making this journey, met His deathly cross, which was laid upon His bleeding shoulders for us.
Prayer: My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the crosses You have destined for me until death. I beg You, by the merits of the pain You suffered in carrying Your cross, to give me the necessary strength to carry mine with patience and resignation.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider this first fall of Jesus under His cross. His flesh was torn, His bones were shaken, and the great weight of the cross oppressed Him.
Prayer: My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the cross, but of my sins, that has made You suffer so much. By this first fall, save me from falling into mortal sin.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother on this journey. Their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
Prayer: Most loving Jesus, by the sorrow You experienced in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Your holy Mother. And you, my Queen, intercede for me.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how the Jews, seeing that Jesus was weak and on the point of expiring, forced Simon of Cyrene to take up the cross and carry it behind Jesus.
Prayer: My sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the cross as Simon did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept all the sufferings You will send me until death.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how the pious woman Veronica, seeing Jesus so distressed and bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him her towel, on which He left the impression of His holy face.
Prayer: My beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before, but now it appears no more, and is disfigured by wounds. Alas, my soul also was once beautiful when it received Your grace in Baptism, but I have disfigured it with my sins. You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider the second fall of Jesus under the cross—a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.
Prayer: My patient Jesus, how often have I denied You and fallen back into my sins! By this second fall, give me the grace to persevere in Your love to the end of my life.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Eighth Station: Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in such a pitiable state, streaming with blood, and He said to them: “Weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
Prayer: My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against You because of the pains they have cost You, but still more because they have displeased You, who love me so much.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of His persecutors was excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to move.
Prayer: Ah, my helpless Jesus, by the merits of this fall, give me strength to conquer all human respect and all my evil passions.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh, and they tore them off so cruelly that His skin came with them.
Prayer: My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torture You suffered, help me to strip myself of all attachment to the things of earth.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how Jesus, being extended on the cross, stretched out His hands and offered to His Eternal Father the sacrifice of His death for our salvation. These barbarians fastened Him with nails, and then, raising the cross, allowed Him to die in anguish.
Prayer: My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there, to love You and never quit You again.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how Jesus, after three hours of agony on the cross, consumed at length with grief, abandoned Himself to the weight of His body, bowed His head, and died.
Prayer: O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which You died for love of me. I deserve death for my sins, but You are my life. I beg You to grant that I may die embracing Your cross.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how, after the death of Our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the cross, and placed Him in the sorrowful arms of His Mother, who received Him with tender affection.
Prayer: O Mother of Sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for your servant and pray for me. And you, my Redeemer, since You have died for me, allow me to love You.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Sepulcher
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to its burial, while His holy Mother went with them and arranged it in the sepulcher with her own hands. Then the tomb was closed.
Prayer: Ah, my Jesus, I kiss Your sepulcher. You have died for the love of me; grant that I may live for the love of You. I trust in You, my Jesus. Amen.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
Closing Prayer
O God, by the passion and death of Your Only-Begotten Son, You have restored human nature to life. Hear our prayers, and grant that as we have shared in His sufferings on earth, we may share in His glory in heaven, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.