Common Catholic Prayers
Prayer is the heartbeat of a grace-filled life. Explore this collection of foundational Catholic prayers to anchor your heart, strengthen your faith, and invite God’s grace into every moment of your day.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried,
he descended into hell,
on the third day he
rose again from the dead,
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the
right hand of God
the Father almighty,
from there he will come to judge the
living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
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.
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 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.
Prayer Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and
these your gifts,
which we are about
to receive from your bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer After Meals
We give You thanks, Almighty God,
for all Your benefits,
Who live and reign
for ever and ever.
And may the souls of
the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
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 offend
You, my God,
who are 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.
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 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 my sins,
the help of Your grace,
and life everlasting,
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
my Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.
The Act of Love
O my God,
I love You above all things,
with my whole heart and soul,
because You are all-good
and worthy of all my love.
In loving You, I also love
my neighbor as myself
for the love of You.
Grant that I may daily
increase in Your love.
Amen.
The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord
declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the
Holy Spirit.
(Hail Mary…)
V. Behold the handmaid
of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me
according to thy word.
(Hail Mary…)
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
(Hail 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:
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 Holy Rosary
The Holy Rosary is a meditative prayer focused on the mysteries of faith in the lives of Jesus and Mary. It is traditionally prayed using a rosary beads chain, combining vocal prayers with contemplation.
1. Introductory Prayers
On the Crucifix: The Apostles’ Creed
On the first large bead: The Our Father
On the next three small beads: Three Hail Marys (traditionally offered for an increase in Faith, Hope, and Charity)
On the chain/medal: The Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer:
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.”
2. The Five Decades
For each of the five mysteries, repeat the following sequence:
Announce the Mystery and reflect on it briefly.
The Our Father on the large bead.
Ten Hail Marys on the ten small beads while meditating on the mystery.
The Glory Be at the end of the decade.
The Fatima Prayer (O my Jesus…).
3. Concluding Prayer
Hail, Holy Queen (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.
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.
The Mysteries of the Rosary (By Day)
Joyful Mysteries: Monday and Saturday
Sorrowful Mysteries: Tuesday and Friday
Glorious Mysteries: Wednesday and Sunday
Luminous Mysteries: Thursday