Like most religions, Catholicism has specific prayers that believers say at certain times or on certain occasions. Vocal prayer is an important part of Catholic tradition. It underlines the fact that the Incarnation of God’s Son joined both the spiritual and physical and showed us the way to holiness in both parts of our human nature, joined together. “Vocal prayer is an essential element of the Christian life. To his disciples, drawn by their Master’s silent prayer, Jesus teaches a vocal prayer, the Our Father.” (CCC 2700) When we pray to God vocally, we acknowledge that we are both physical and spiritual beings, and that both parts can and should give praise to God.
The prayers on this page are a part of the beauty of the Catholic faith tradition. They are drawn from Scripture, from the insights of the saints, and ultimately, from the Holy Spirit. “Through a living transmission (Sacred Tradition) within ‘the believing and praying Church,’ the Holy Spirit teaches the children of God how to pray,” (CCC 2650), because by ourselves, “we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26)
These prayers can instruct us, guide us, and our hearts to the graces which God continually invites us to share with him. Reciting a prayer, however, is not the same as praying. In order for these words to become true prayer, they must not only use the breath of our lungs, but also the breath of the Spirit that lives within us.
Do you have a favorite prayer that you’d like included here? Send it to us by clicking below. We can’t promise to include it, but we’d like to take a look and see if we can fit it in.
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to
St. Joseph
Pope’s prayer intention
for March 2025
Each year, the Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month. You are invited to answer the Holy Father’s request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this intention each month.
For families in crisis
Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness,
rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
Seasonal Prayers for the Lenten Season
Links to seasonal novenas can be found on the page containing the Schedule of Services.
“My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.”
—Psalm 51:19
Prayer of Abandonment
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Amen.
– Charles de Foucauld
May your holy spirit come and live within me
Father Lord,
Just as Christ died for my sins,
I pray that every bad habit I have die too
Help me to overcome sin and
Let go of anything that hinders my relationship with you
I open myself up to you Lord,
May your holy spirit come and live within me
May my life be transformed by the power of the holy spirit
May the holy spirit be my reminder of the pains and sufferings of Christ Jesus because of my sins
May the holy spirit help me to live a life that honors your name
Through Jesus Christ, I pray,
Amen
Come, My Light
Come, my Light,
and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life,
and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician,
and heal my wounds.
Come, Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
kindling my heart
with the flame of thy love.
–Dimitrii of Rostov
Mercy
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
– Author Unknown
If I Must Refrain
Lord of the Fast,
I have wandered far from you
And now I seek to return.
Show me the path.
If I must refrain from food
To remind myself of my hunger for the bread of life,
Then help me do so with grace.
Let it too remind me of the hungry Christ
That is present in each day in His people.
If I must refrain from companionship
To remind myself of my longing for my father’s embrace,
Then help me do so with grace.
Let it too remind me of the lonely Christ
That is present in each day in His people.
If I must refrain from the gifts of this world
To remind myself of the giver of the great gift
That is our salvation,
Then help me do so with grace.
Let it too remind me of the homeless Christ
That is present each day in His people.
Help me look beyond the comforts of my table, my society, and my
possessions
For without your grace and mercy,
I indeed have nothing
And all is little more than dust.
I thank you, Lord,
For as far as I have wandered,
Here in the wilderness
A path home is revealed
In the faces of the least of your people.
-Catholic Relief Services
Lenten Prayer for Ash Wednesday
God of goodness and mercy,
Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day.
Amen.
Penance
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong,
and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance, to sin no more, and avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy.
– Author Unknown
Prayer for a Fruitful Lent
My precious and crucified Lord, I offer You this Lent.
I offer it to You with total abandonment and trust.
I offer You my prayers, sacrifices and my very life this day.
Do with me, Lord, as You will.
I pray that this Lent will be fruitful.
I know You have much to say to me and much to do in my life.
May this Lent be a time through which Your mercy is poured in abundance into my soul,
and into the souls of all Your faithful.
– Author Unknown
For those who practice the Catholic faith, the following prayers are important in and of themselves. And, while this list is certainly not an exhaustive one, it will illustrate the different kinds of Catholic prayers that help to form the treasury of prayers in the Church.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hail Mary, full of grace!
Glory be to the Father,
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Soul of Christ, make me holy
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Come Holy Spirit
St. Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit
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 Angelus
Hail Holy Queen
look to you.
Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love of the interior life. After your example, may I perform my actions for the greater Glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pray for me, Saint Joseph, that I may experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
come before you to thank you for all you have done and continue to do in our lives and marriage. Lord, we come before you on this day, Father, asking for a stronger bond of unity in our marriage covenant.
thank you that all good gifts come from you. I thank you that I can trust you for the future of my family. Please guide my child in every step they take. I pray they would know your provision and protection. Make steady their steps I pray. Amen
we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of theory who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings.
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
gift of healing, I am grateful for your presence in this time of suffering and weakness.
Your Only Begotten
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.