For Various Purposes
Prayer has been an integral part of the Christian Faith since the time of Jesus. Often, Jesus would go away on His own to pray, and He even taught us a vocal prayer (Our Father) that incorporates all four aspects of prayer:
- Blessing & Adoration (praising God)
- Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)
- Petition/Intercession (asking for what we or others need)
- Contrition/Repentance (acknowledging our sinfulness, and asking for forgiveness)
Below is a sample of prayers that are commonly used by Catholics throughout the centuries. While there are many, many more prayers that have been written, these are the ones that are most often prayed. The three prayers on the bottom were written or are a favorite of Fr. Stefan Starzynski (4th Hospital Chaplain).
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 flesh, died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths that the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
Act of Hope
O my God, relying on Your almighty power, infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my 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 worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all who I have injured. Amen.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Cardinal Mercier
O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen and comfort me.
Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to submit to everything that You ask of me and to accept all that You allow to happen to me. Just show me what Your Will is. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who has instructed the hearts of Your faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may have a right judgment in all things and evermore rejoice in his consolations. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
The Angelus
V- The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R- And she conceived by 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.
Regina Caeli
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.
R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
LET US PRAY: O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malicious enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me and bid me come unto Thee that I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lady of Victory by Venerable Fr. Baker
O Victorious Lady, Thou who has ever such powerful influence with Thy Divine Son in conquering the hardest of hearts, intercede for those for whom we pray, that their hearts, being softened by the ways of Divine Grace, may return to the unity of the true Faith, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
An Offering of Suffering for the Diocese of Arlington
In union with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, I offer my suffering, my life, my joys, and my pains for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.
I am confident that this offering of my suffering and my discomfort has great value in the sight of God and will obtain from Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with Mary at the foot of the cross, a showering of graces and divine favors for all my intentions.
I ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for the Charisms of the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, enkindle in our hearts the fire of Your love. Release upon our Church the diverse gifts of Your Spirit. Grant that they may be received by open hearts, prepared and willing to cultivate these charisms, given to all believers, each unique, each important in service to the Body of Christ.
Embolden us with Your courage as we go forth, in the spirit of the first apostolic community, to spread the Good News to all peoples in all nations.
Bless our efforts in community with the peace, love, and the joy of Your Spirit, unity in diversity, as we build up Your Church for the sole purpose of Your greater glory, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
What our spirit, that is, our soul, is in relation to our other members, so the Holy Spirit is to the members of Christ, that is, the Body of Christ which is the Church. ~ St. Augustine