Basic Catholic Prayers

1-    Sign of the Cross (short)-

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2-    Sign of the Cross (solemn)-

By the sign of the Holy Cross (+), protect us from our enemies (+), O Lord (+),

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

3-    Glory Be-

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.

4-    Our Father-

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.

5- Hail Mary-

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among 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.

6-    I Believe (The Apostles’ Creed)-

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 to the dead; on the third day He rose again;

He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there He will 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.

7-    I Confess-

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned through my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sister, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

8-    Hail, Holy Queen-

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

9-    The Memorare-

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

10-    Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven)-

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

 Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

 Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

11-    The Angelus-

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:

R. And she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary…

Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

And the Word was made Flesh:

R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, 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.

12-    Act of Faith-

O my God, I firmly 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 are eternal truth and wisdom,

who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

In this faith I intend to live and die.

Amen.

13-    Act of Hope-

O Lord God,

I hope by your grace for the pardon

of all my sins

and after life here to gain eternal happiness

because you have promised it

who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind,

and merciful.

In this hope I intend to live and die.

Amen.

14-    Act of Love-

O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbour for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die.Amen.

15-    Act of Contrition-

O my God,

I am heartily sorry for having offended you,

and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments,

but most of all because they offend you, my God,

who are all good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,

to sin no more

and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Amen.

16-    Anima Christi (Prayer after 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 your wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from you. From the wicked foe, defend me, at the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you That with your saints I may praise you For ever and ever. Amen.

17-    The Beatitudes-

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

18-    The Ten Commandments-

-I am the Lord your God: You shall have no other gods before me.

-You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

-Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

-Honour your father and mother.

-You shall not kill.

-You shall not commit adultery.

-You shall not steal.

-You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

-You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.

-You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

The Ten Commandments can be summarised into two:

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

2. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

19-    Five Precepts of the Catholic Church-

-Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.

-Confess your sins at least once a year.

-Receive the Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.

-Observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.

-Help to provide for the needs of the Church

20-    The seven Sacraments-

-Baptism 

-Confirmation

-Holy Eucharist

-Penance (confession)

-Holy Orders

-Matrimony

-Anointing of the Sick

21-    Requisites for a Good Confession-

-Examine your conscience.

-Be sincerely sorry for your sins.

-Confess your sins to a priest.

-Resolve to amend your life.

-After confession, do the penance the priest assigns.

22-    Requisites to receive the Holy Eucharist worthily-

-Be in the state of grace

-Observe the one-hour fast

-Be sufficiently devout and prepared

23-    Fourteen works of mercy-

a-Corporal Works-

   -Feed the hungry

   -Give drink to the thirsty

   -Clothe the naked

   -Shelter the homeless

   -Visit the prisoners

   -Comfort the sick

   -Bury the dead

b-Spiritual Works-

   -Teach the ignorant

   -Pray for the living & dead

   -Correct sinners

   -Counsel those in doubt

   -Console the sorrowful

   -Bear wrongs patiently

   -Forgive wrongs willingly

24-    Four Destinies of Man-

-Death

-Judgement

-Heaven

-Hell

25-    Four Characteristics of the True Church-

-The Church is One

-The Church is Holy

-The Church is Catholic

-The Church is Apostolic

26-    Seven Capital Sins and their contrary Virtues-

-Pride x Humility

-Greed x Generosity  

-Lust x Chastity

-Anger x Patience  

-Gluttony x Temperance  

-Envy x Kindness  

-Sloth x Diligence

27-    Four Cardinal Virtues-

-Prudence

-Justice

-Fortitude

-Temperance 

28-    Three main Religious Virtues-

 -Faith

-Hope

-Charity (love)

29-    Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

-Wisdom

-Understanding

-Counsel

-Fortitude

-Knowledge

-Piety

-Fear of the Lord

30-    Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit-

-Charity

-Joy

-Peace

-Patience

-Kindness

-Goodness

-Generosity

-Gentleness

-Faithfulness

-Modesty

-Self-control

-Chastity

31-    Six Sins against the Holy Spirit-

-Presumption of God’s mercy

-Despair of salvation

-Impugning the known truth

-Envy to another’s spiritual good

-Obstinacy in Sin

-Final impenitence

32-    Six main attributes of God-

God is-

-Self-existent

-Eternal

-Pure Spirit

-Infinitely Good

-Omnipresent

-First Cause of all

33-    Three Theological virtues-

-Faith

-Hope

-Charity

34-    Four sins crying to Heaven for Vengeance-

-Wilful murder

-The sin of sodomy

-Oppression of the poor

-Defrauding labourers of their wages

35-    Three Evangelical Counsels-

-Poverty

-Obedience

-Chastity

36-    Mysteries of the Holy Rosary-

a)     Joyful Mysteries-

-       The Annunciation

-       The Visitation

-       The Nativity (The birth of Child Jesus)

-       The Presentation in the Temple

-       The finding of (Child) Jesus in the temple

b)     Luminous Mysteries-

-       The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan 

-       The Wedding at Cana 

-       The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God 

-       The Transfiguration 

-       The Institution of the Eucharist 

c)     Sorrowful Mysteries-

-       The Agony in the Garden

-       The Scourging at the Pillar

-       The Crowning with Thorns

-       The Carrying of the Cross

-       The Crucifixion and Death

d)     Glorious Mysteries-

-       The Resurrection 

-       The Ascension 

-       The Descent of the Holy Spirit 

-       The Assumption of Mary 

-       The Coronation of Mary