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Catholic Prayers, Novenas, and Litanies

Find Catholic prayers for every occasion. Learn about the different types of Catholic prayers, including novenas, litanies, the Rosary, and chaplets. Discover prayers for every season, including Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. Find prayers written by saints, and prayers to the saints, as well as prayers to Christ and the Mother of God, and learn when to use each kind of prayer.
Act of Reparation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
In this prayer, we offer praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Holy Trinity in reparation for offenses against the Mother of God.
To the Blessed Virgin Mary for May
In this beautiful prayer, to be offered during the Marian month of May, we ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for her protection and for the grace to imitate her in her love of Christ, and Christ in His love of her.
What Is Prayer?
Prayer is a form of communication, a way of talking to God or to the saints.
Why Do Catholics Pray to Saints?
Do Catholics believe that saints should be worshiped? If not, why do they pray to saints? Is there a difference between prayer and worship?
Types of Prayer
Prayer is how we communicate with God and the saints. Here are brief descriptions of the five major types of prayer.
For the Dying
In this prayer, we ask God to strengthen the dying that they may approach Him in the hope of the resurrection.
The Breastplate of Saint Patrick
The Lorica, or Breastplate, of Saint Patrick is best known for only one of its verses. But the full version, printed here, incorporates all the elements of Catholic morning prayer.
Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered Against the Holy Name
We often hear the Name of Jesus spoken casually, at best, and even in anger and blasphemy. Through this Act of Reparation, we offer our own prayers to make up for the sins of others (and, perhaps, our own, if we find ourselves uttering Christ's Name in vain).
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer is perhaps the most popular prayer among Eastern Christians, both Orthodox and Catholic, who recite it using prayer ropes that are similar to Western rosaries. It is the perfect prayer to occupy those otherwise wasted moments of our day.
Prayer to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Patron of Youth
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga died at the age of 23, after living a brief but zealous and holy life. Named the patron of youth by Pope Benedict XIII at his canonization, Saint Aloysius is especially important to our culture today, in which so many young people have lost sight of their eternal home.
A Prayer To Be Said by Young Men
The life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, the patron of youth, is a strong example of virtue for young men. This prayer acknowledges the trials and tribulations that young men face and asks Saint Aloysius to intercede for them.
Prayer to Saint Thomas More
This prayer invokes St. Thomas More as the patron saint of lawyers, asking him to pray to God for the grace to rise to the highest standards of that profession. The final verse can also be prayed by itself as a prayer to St. Thomas More as the patron saint of large families.
Prayer of an Engaged Couple
This beautiful prayer can help an engaged couple get into the habit of praying together before their wedding day, as they ask for the graces to build their lives together and to welcome children into their marriage.
Prayer for Those in the Armed Services
This touching prayer for those in the armed services emphasizes the spiritual, rather than the physical, dangers of war, because physical death is powerless to kill the soul, but sin can deprive us of Heaven.
Prayer for Those Making a Journey
This short prayer can be prayed both for ourselves, as we begin any trip, no matter how short, or for others, that they may be kept safe.
A Prayer to Know Our Vocation
Discerning our vocation in life is important. This is a very good prayer to pray as a novena at those times in life when we need to make a decision about our vocation.
Prayer for Vocations to the Priestly and Religious Life
There are more Catholics than at any time in history, but vocations to the priesthood and religious orders are lagging far behind. In this prayer, we ask God to raise up workers for His Church and for the salvation of souls.
Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
The prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian is a common Lenten prayer used by both Eastern Rite Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. It is a good prayer to recite daily (or even several times per day) during Lent. Find the text here.
Prayer to Jesus in the Manger
This prayer, in which we humble ourselves before the Savior of the World, born as a Child in a stable, is the perfect prayer to accompany the placement of the Child in the manger of our home Nativity scene.
Prayer for the Feast of Christmas
This beautiful prayer, which reminds us what Christmas is all about, is a perfect prayer to pray after arriving home from Midnight Mass, or on Christmas morning, before opening presents. (The father or mother should recite the antiphon, verse, and prayer, and all of the rest should recite the response.) You can also pray it as part of your table grace before Christmas dinner.
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