Morning and evening
A Christian life has a rhythm: we give the day to God when it begins and place it back into His hands when it ends. These are the prayers that have shaped that rhythm for generations, from the Sign of the Cross to the Creeds.
The Catechism sets prayer at the centre of the new life in Christ — and gives it a daily shape.
“Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget him who is our life and our all.”
“The Tradition of the Church proposes to the faithful certain rhythms of praying intended to nourish continual prayer. Some are daily, such as morning and evening prayer, grace before and after meals, the Liturgy of the Hours.”
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort.”
“Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
The prayers every Catholic learns first.
The prayer that begins every prayer, made while tracing the cross from forehead to breast and shoulder to shoulder.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Traditional English text · Compare: Catechism of the Catholic Church · §2157 ↗
The prayer Christ himself taught his disciples.
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.
Traditional English text · Compare: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church · The Lord’s Prayer ↗
The angel's greeting and Elizabeth's blessing, with the Church's petition.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
Traditional English text · Compare: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church · Appendix A, Common Prayers ↗
A short hymn of praise to the Holy Trinity.
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.
Traditional English text · Compare: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church · Appendix A, Common Prayers ↗
Prayed on waking, it hands the whole day, its work, joys, and hardships, to God before it begins.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, 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 for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all the Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.
Traditional devotional text. We have not identified an original published source.
Traditionally prayed at six in the morning, at noon, and at six in the evening, recalling the Incarnation. A Hail Mary follows each of the first three versicles.
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.
Traditional English text · Compare: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church · Appendix A, Common Prayers ↗
The short invocation of the Holy Spirit, prayed before work or study.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Traditional English text · Compare: The Raccolta (1910) · pp. 31–32 ↗
The three theological virtues, put into words. These are the forms printed in the Baltimore Catechism, the same page as the Act of Contrition below.
O my God! I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy 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 Thou hast revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.
O my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
O my God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
A medieval prayer, often said in thanksgiving after Holy Communion.
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 evil enemy defend me; In the hour of my death call me, And bid me come unto Thee, That with all Thy saints I may praise Thee For all eternity. Amen.
Traditionally ascribed to St Augustine, though the ascription cannot be traced.
Watch Thou, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep to-night, and give Thine angels charge over those who sleep. Tend Thy sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest Thy weary ones. Bless Thy dying ones. Soothe Thy suffering ones. Pity Thine afflicted ones. Shield Thy joyous ones. And all, for Thy Love’s sake. Amen.
An expression of sorrow for sin, prayed in the evening and in the Sacrament of Confession.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, 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 Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Traditional English text · Compare: Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (1921) · p. 6 ↗
Not a fixed text but a brief, prayerful review of the day. A simple, traditional pattern:
The ancient baptismal creed of the Church of Rome, prayed at the start of the Rosary and in the profession of faith.
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; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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.
Traditional English text · Compare: Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church · The Creed ↗
The creed of the Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). This is the older English Missal translation. The wording used at Mass today is a modern licensed translation, which we cannot reproduce here.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God of God; Light of Light; very God of very God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made Man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father: and He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead: of whose kingdom there shall be no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son: who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the Prophets. And One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Traditional English text · Compare: A Manual of Prayers (1898) · pp. 126–128 ↗
Issued by Pope Leo XIII with his encyclical of 25 May 1899 on the consecration of mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself to-day to Thy most sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be Thou King also of all those who sit in the ancient superstition of the Gentiles, and refuse not Thou to deliver them out of darkness into the light and kingdom of God. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever. Amen.
Ask in confidence
Ask anything and receive the Church’s own words — quoted, cited, and linked to the source. Tap a question to begin, or write your own.