Prayers & Practices

The Sign of the Cross
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Our Father
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

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

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 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.

Guardian Angel Prayer
Angel of God, My Guardian Dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen

The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, he will come again 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 the life everlasting. Amen

The Nicene Creed (Profession of Faith)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of 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. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Act of Contrition
O, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. I detest all my sins because of your just punishment, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Grace After Meals
We give you thanks for all your gifts, almighty God, living and reigning now and for ever. Amen.

Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, words, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation of sin, the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen

Morning Prayer
Dear God, as I begin this day, keep me in your love and care. Help me to live as your child today. Bless me, my family, and my friends in all we do. Keep us close to you. Amen.

Evening Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for today. Keep me safe throughout the night. Thank you for all the good I did today. I am sorry for what I have chosen to do wrong. Bless my family and friends. Amen.

Before Bed
Lord grant me a safe and restful sleep that I might awaken refreshed and eager to serve you. Amen

The 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.

A Vocation Prayer
God, I know you will call me for special work in my life. Help me follow Jesus each day and be ready to answer your call.

Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three devine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your devine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. Amen

Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your infinite goodness 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 my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen

Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle 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 by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. 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. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word. 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. And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. 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. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 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 Seven Precepts of the Church

  1. To keep holy the day of the Lord’s Resurrection: to worship God by participating in Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.
  2. To lead a sacramental life: to receive Holy Communion frequently and the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year.
  3. To study Catholic teaching in preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, to be confirmed, and then continue to study and advance the cause of Christ.
  4. To observe the marriage laws of the Church: to give religious training (by word and example) to one’s children; to use parish schools and religious education programs.
  5. To strengthen and support the Church: one’s own parish community and parish priests; the worldwide Church and the Holy Father.
  6. To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on appointed days.
  7. To join in the missionary spirit and work of the church.

The Seven Sacraments
Baptism
Reconcilation
Holy Eucharist
Confirmation
Matrimony
Anointing of the Sick
Holy Orders

The Ten Commandments

  1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
  4. Honor your father and mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Beatitudes

  1. Blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.
  2. Blest are the sorrowing: they shall be consoled.
  3. Blest are the lowly: they shall inherit the land.
  4. Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness: they shall have their fill.
  5. Blest are they who show mercy: mercy shall be theirs.
  6. Blest are the pure of heart: they shall see God.
  7. Blest are the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
  8. Blest are those persecuted for the sake of holiness: the reign of God is theirs.

Corporal Works of Mercy

  1. Feed the Hungry.
  2. Give drink to the thirsty.
  3. Welcome the Stranger.
  4. Clothe the naked.
  5. Visit the sick.
  6. Visit those in Prison.
  7. Bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

  1. Teach the ignorant.
  2. Give advice to those who need it.
  3. Comfort those who suffer.
  4. Be patient with others.
  5. Forgive those who hurt you.
  6. Correct those who need it.
  7. Pray for others.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

  1. Wisdom
  2. Understanding
  3. Right Judgment (counsel)
  4. Courage (Fortitude)
  5. Knowledge
  6. Reverence (piety)
  7. Wonder and awe

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

  1. Charity (or love)
  2. Joy
  3. Peace
  4. Patience
  5. Benignity (or kindness)
  6. Longanimity (or long suffering)
  7. Faith
  8. Mildness
  9. Goodness
  10. Modesty
  11. Continency
  12. Chastity

Cardinal Virtues

  1. Prudence
  2. Justice
  3. Fortitude
  4. Temperance

The Great Commandment
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Matthew 22:37,39

The New Commandment
[Jesus said:] ” I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, you should love one another. This is how all will know that your are my disciples, if you have love for one another.  — John 13:34-35