Wel l-Known Catholic Pr ayer s For your songs and proverbs and parables, and for your interpretations, the countries marveled at you. ~ Sirach 47:17 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the . Amen.

OUR FATHER Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy Kingdom come; DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY 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.

HAIL MARY A from Ireland , full of grace, the Lord is with thee. GLORIA Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, . Glory to in the highest, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, and peace to his people on earth. now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Lord God, Heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, I confess to almighty God, we praise you for your glory. and to you, my brothers and sisters, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, that I have sinned through my own fault, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins They strike their breast: of the world, have mercy on us. in my thoughts and in my words, You are seated at the right hand of the Father, in what I have done receive our . and what I have failed to do; For You alone are the Holy One, You alone and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, all the angels and , Jesus Christ, and you, my brothers and sisters, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Fa- to pray for me to the Lord our God. ther. Amen. DOXOLOGY Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) grants the original purchaser (parish, local parochial institution, or individual) permission to reproduce this handout. ACT OF FAITH Blessed be her holy and . O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God Blessed be her glorious Assumption. in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and mother. I believe that your divine Son became man and died Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. for our sins, and that he will come to judge the liv- Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints. ing and the dead. I believe these and all the truths Amen. that the holy teaches, because you PRAYER TO ONE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be de- ceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. , my guardian dear, To whom God’s love commits me here. ACT OF HOPE Ever this day, be at my side, O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and To light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen. promises, I hope to obtain pardon of COME, HOLY SPIRIT my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Re- your faithful deemer. In this hope I intend to live and enkindle in them the fire of and die. your love. Leader: Send forth your Spirit and ACT OF LOVE they shall be created. O my God, I love you above all Response: And you shall renew the things, with my whole heart and face of the earth. soul, because you are all-good and Let us pray. worthy of all love. I love my neigh- O God, who by the light of the bor as myself for the love of you. Holy Spirit instructs the hearts I forgive all who have injured me, of the faithful, grant that in the and I ask pardon of all whom I same Spirit we may be truly wise, have injured. In this love I intend and ever rejoice in his consolation,

to live and die. PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLES DAVID through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ACT OF CONTRITION THE O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offend- The angel of the Lord ed you, and I detest all my sins, because of your declared unto Mary. just punishments, but most of all because they of- And she conceived fend you, my God, who are all-good and deserv- by the Holy Spirit. ing of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help Hail Mary, full of grace... of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near Behold the handmaid of the Lord. occasion of sin. Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary, full of grace... THE DIVINE PRAISES And the Word was made flesh. Blessed be God. And dwelt among us. Blessed be his holy name. Hail Mary, full of grace... Blessed be Jesus Christ, Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. true God and true man. That we may be made worthy Blessed be the name of Jesus. of the promises of Christ. Blessed be his most . Let us pray. Blessed be his most precious blood. Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace Blessed be Jesus in the into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation most holy of the . of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the mes- Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. sage of an angel, may, by his Passion and cross, be Blessed be the great Mother of God, brought to the glory of his Resurrection, through Mary most holy. the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Well-Known Catholic — Page 2 HAIL, HOLY “Whoever has God wants for nothing. THE PRAYER OF QUEEN ST. FRANCIS OF Hail, holy Queen, God alone is enough.” ASSISI Mother of mercy! Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Our life, our sweetness, and our hope! Where there is hatred, let me sow love, To you do we cry, Where there is injury, pardon, poor banished children of Eve. Where there is doubt, faith, To you do we send up our sighs, Where there is despair, hope, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Where there is darkness, light, Turn then, most gracious advocate, Where there is sadness, joy. your eyes of mercy toward us; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek and after this, our exile, To be consoled as to console, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, To be understood as to understand, Jesus. To be loved as to love. O clement , O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! For it is in giving that we receive, Amen. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it PRAYER OF ST. TERESA known that anyone who fled OF AVILA to your protection, implored Let nothing trouble you. Y

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I fly to you O Virgin of vir- D for nothing. gins, my mother. God alone is enough. To you I come, before you I Amen. stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word Incarnate, PRAYER BEFORE MEALS despise not my petitions, Bless us O Lord, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. and these thy gifts, Amen. which we are about to receive from thy bounty, PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL, THE through Christ our Lord. Amen. ARCHANGEL St. Michael, the archangel, PRAYER AFTER MEALS defend us in battle, We give you thanks for all your benefits, be our defense against the wickedness O almighty God, who lives and reigns forever; and the snares of the devil. and may the souls of the faithful departed, May God rebuke him we humbly pray, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits, YOUR SACRED TABLE prowling throughout the world, (by St. Francis de Sales) seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Divine Savior, we come to your sacred table to nourish ourselves, not with bread but with your-

Well-Known Catholic Prayers — Page 3 self, true Bread of eternal life. Help us daily to never permit me to be separated from you. Who make a good and perfect meal of this divine food. with the same God the Father and the Holy Spirit, Let us be continually refreshed by the perfume of live and reign, world without end. Amen. your kindness and goodness. May the Holy Spir- it fill us with his love. Meanwhile, let us prepare PRAYERS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION a place for this holy food by emptying our hearts. (SOUL OF CHRIST) Amen. Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. NO OTHER TREASURE BESIDES THEE , inebriate me. (by St. Peter Julian Eymard) Water from the side of Christ, strengthen me. I will have no other treasure besides Thee, good O good Jesus, hear me. Jesus! My heart shall no longer seek its Best-Be- Within thy wounds, hide me. loved; it has found him. My love shall no more lan- Separated from thee never let me be. guish far from Thee, now that I know Thy dwell- From the malignant enemy, defend me. ing-place. Oh, draw me now entirely to Thee, At the hour of death, call me, Divine Lover, my mind with all its thoughts, my and bid me to come unto thee. heart with all its desires and affections, my will with That I may praise you, all its actions, my body with all is senses, that I may in the company of your saints, for all eternity. live no longer in myself but in Thee! Amen. Amen.

ADORO TE DEVOTE OTHER PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION (by St. Thomas Aquinas) May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sac- Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore rament, be praised, adored, and loved with grate- Masked by these bare shadows, ful affection, at every moment, in all the taberna- shape and nothing more, cles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen. See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may Lost, all lost in wonder at the God Thou art we possess in purity of heart, that what is given to Seeing, touching, tasting are in Thee deceived; us in time, be our healing for eternity. May your How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; Body, O Lord, which I have eaten, and your Blood What God’s Son has told me, take for truth I do; which I have drunk, cleave to my very soul, and Truth himself speaks truly or there’s nothing true. grant that no trace of sin be found in me, whom Amen. these pure and holy mysteries have renewed. Who live and reign, world without end. Amen. OTHER PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION O Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: ACT OF (when “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you,” the reception of Communion is not possible) regard not my sins but the faith of your Church, My Jesus, I believe that you are in the Blessed and deign to give her peace and unity according Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long to your will: Who live and reign, world without for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you end. Amen. in the sacrament, come at least spiritually into my O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, heart. As though you have already come, I em- by the will of the Father, with the cooperation of brace you and unite myself entirely to you; never the Holy Spirit, have by your death given life to the permit me to be separated from you. Amen world, deliver me by this your Most Sacred Body and Blood from all my sins and from every evil. (CCC 2676-2677, 2688, 2698, 2701-2704, 2759- Make me always cling to your commandments, and 2854) “What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart.”

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