Prayers - Catholic Prayers for Every Occasion
By Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide to Catholicism
Along with the sacraments, prayer is at the heart of our life as Catholics. Find prayers for every occasion, from daily prayers to novenas for special needs. Learn how to pray the rosary, and find prayers to various saints and for different times of the year. Enrich your prayer life by learning the traditional prayers of the Catholic Church.
- Litanies
- Prayers for the Dead
- Prayers to the Holy Spirit
- To the Blessed Sacrament
- Prayers for Each Month
The Basics of Prayer
Saint Paul tells us that we should "pray without ceasing," yet in the modern world, it sometimes seems that prayer takes a back seat not only to our work but to entertainment. As a result, many of us have fallen out of the habit of daily prayer that characterized the lives of Christians in centuries past. Yet an active prayer life is essential to our growth in grace. Learn more about prayer and about how to integrate prayer into every aspect of your daily life.
Essential Prayers
Every Catholic should know certain prayers by heart. Memorizing these prayers means that you will always have them close to hand, to recite as morning and evening prayer, and at appropriate times throughout the day.
- Ten Prayers Every Catholic Child Should Know
- The Sign of the Cross
- The Our Father
- The Hail Mary
- The Glory Be
- An Act of Faith
- An Act of Hope
- An Act of Charity
- The Act of Contrition
- Grace Before Meals
- Grace After Meals
- The Guardian Angel Prayer
- The Apostles' Creed
- The Rosary
Advent Prayers
Find popular Catholic prayers for Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas, including prayers for the Advent wreath and the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena.
- The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
- Advent Wreath Prayer for the First Week of Advent
- Advent Wreath Prayer for the Second Week of Advent
- Advent Wreath Prayer for the Third Week of Advent
- Advent Wreath Prayer for the Fourth Week of Advent
- The O Antiphons
- O Antiphon for December 17
- O Antiphon for December 18
- O Antiphon for December 19
- O Antiphon for December 20
- O Antiphon for December 21
- O Antiphon for December 22
- O Antiphon for December 23
To the Virgin Mary
Through the selfless "yes" of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, our Savior, was brought into the world. It is appropriate, therefore, that we offer prayers of petition and praise to the Mother of God.
- Hail Holy Queen
- Act of Reparation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- To the Blessed Virgin Mary for May
- For the Grace of Love
- Invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- For the Help of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Prayer of Saint Augustine to the Blessed Virgin
- Petition to Mary by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
- To Mary, Refuge of Sinners
- Prayer Commending Oneself to Mary
- Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan
To the Sacred Heart
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which represents Christ's love for mankind, is very widespread in the Roman Catholic Church. These prayers are especially appropriate for the Feast of the Sacred Heart and for the month of June, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- Prayer to the Sacred Heart
- To the Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist
- For the Help of the Sacred Heart
- Memorare to the Sacred Heart
- Act of Love to the Sacred Heart
- Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
- A Prayer of Trust in the Sacred Heart
- Prayer to the Sacred Heart for the Church
- Invocation to the Sacred Heart
- Novena of Confidence to the Sacred Heart
Novenas
The novena, or nine-day prayer, is a powerful tool in our prayer life. This collection of novenas for every season of the liturgical calendar and to an assortment of saints is a good place to start to integrate novenas into your daily prayers.
- Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
- Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
- Novena to the Holy Family
- Novena of Confidence to the Sacred Heart
- Novena to Saint Joseph
- Novena to Saint Joseph the Worker
- Divine Mercy Novena
- Novena to the Holy Ghost
- Novena to Saint Anthony to Find a Lost Article
- Novena to Saint Anthony for Any Need
- Short Novena for Corpus Christi
- Novena to Saint Expeditus
Litanies
A litany is a special prayer, usually intended to be recited communally, with a priest or other leader reciting the verses, while the faithful respond. Many litanies, however, can be recited privately as well.
Prayers for the Dead
Prayer for the dead is one of the greatest acts of charity we can perform. Our prayers help them during their time in Purgatory, so that they can enter more quickly into the fullness of heaven. These prayers are especially suited for offering a novena on behalf of the dead, or for praying during those seasons of the year (November, in the Western Church; Lent, in the Eastern Church) designated by the Church as times of fervent prayer for the faithful departed.
- Eternal Rest
- Eternal Memory
- Weekly Prayers for the Faithful Departed
- A Prayer for Deceased Parents
- A Prayer for a Deceased Mother
- A Prayer for a Deceased Father
- Prayer for Mercy on the Souls in Purgatory
- Prayer for All the Deceased
- Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
- De Profundis
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Prayer to the Holy Spirit is less common for many Catholics than prayer to God the Father and to Jesus Christ. These prayers to the Holy Spirit are appropriate for both daily use and for special intentions.
- Novena to the Holy Ghost
- Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
- Prayer to the Holy Ghost
- Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
- Litany of the Holy Spirit
- Prayer to the Holy Spirit for a Favor
- Come Holy Spirit
- Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
To the Blessed Sacrament
Eucharistic adoration is central to Catholic spirituality. These prayers to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament are appropriate as post-Communion prayers and for visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
- Faith in the Eucharist
- Petition Before the Blessed Sacrament
- Act of Love
- An Offering of Oneself to Christ in the Eucharist
Prayers for Each Month
The Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a specific devotion. Find the devotions and prayers for each month here.
