Traditional Catholic Prayers

A collection of the most traditional and simple Catholic Prayers all in one place. Many of these prayers are taught to children from a young age, while others are learnt by adults who have began studying the Catholic religion later in life. Often these prayers become traditions and are passed from one generations to another. Some read daily, while others kept for special occasions, there is a traditional prayer for ever aspect of life.You may remember your Grandmother saying Grace before meals or your mother quietly whispering the Hail Mary before bedtime. A simple prayer can remind you of fond memories from your childhood.

Prayers Taught from a Young Age

The Sign of the Cross

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

The Hail Mary

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are 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.”

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.”

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.”

Gloria

“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen”

Grace Before and After Mealtime

“Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to
receive from thy bounty through Christ Our Lord. Amen.”

“We give you thanks for all your benefits, Almighty God who
live and reign for ever. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.”

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 into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty, from thence He shall 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.”

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel

“Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”

Divine Prayers

“Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Blessed St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints. Amen.”

Hail Holy Queen

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our hope. To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us, the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.

Prayers About Faith, Hope, Contrition and Love

An Act of Faith

“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 can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.”

An Act of Hope

“O my God, trusting in Your promises and because You are faithful, powerful and merciful, I
hope, through the merits of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of my sins, final perseverance and the
blessed glory of heaven.”

An Act of Contrition

“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You,
and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell,
but most of all because they offended You, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.  Amen.”

An Act of Love

“O my God, because You are infinite goodness and worthy of infinite love, I love You with my
whole heart above all things, and for love of You I love my neighbor as myself. I forgive all who
have offended me and ask pardon of all whom I have offended.”

Let Us Pray

O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers for the Sick

Prayer for the Sick

“O God, your Son accepted our sufferings to teach us the virtue of patience in human illness.
Hear the prayers we offer for our sick brothers and sisters.
May all who suffer pain, illness or disease realize that they are chosen to be saints,
and know that they are joined to Christ in his suffering for the salvation of the world,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.”

Prayer for the Dying

“O God, great and omnipotent judge of the living and the dead,
we are to appear before you after this short life to render an account of our works.
Give us the grace to prepare for our last hour by a devout and holy life,
and protect us against a sudden and unprovided death.
Let us remember our frailty and mortality,
that we may always live in the ways of your commandments.”

Prayers for Protection

Memorare

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

Prayers to an Angel

St. Michael the Archangel

“Saint Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him; we humbly pray;
And do thou O Prince of the heavenly host,
By the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all evil spirits
Who wander through the world
For the ruin of souls. Amen.”

St. Gabriel the Archangel

“O God, who from among all your angels chose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of the Incarnation,
mercifully grant that we who solemnly remember him on earth may feel the benefit of his patronage in heaven,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.”

St. Raphael the Archangel

“O God, send the Archangel Raphael to our assistance.
May he who stands forever praising you at your throne present our humble petitions to be blessed by you.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Prayers for Marriage

Prayer for Married Couple

“We thank you, Lord,
And we praise you
For bringing us
To this happy day.
You have given us to each other.
Now, together, we give ourselves to you.
We ask you, Lord:
Make us one in our love;
Keep us one in your peace.
Protect our marriage.
Bless our home.
Make us gentle.
Keep us faithful.
And when life is over
Unite us again
Where parting is no more
In the kingdom of your love.”

Prayers for Family 

Prayer for Families

“Lord God, from You every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
Father, You are love and life.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman,
and through the Holy Spirit, fountain of divine charity,
grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love.
Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love.
Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage,
may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass.
Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the church may faithfully.”

Confession Related Prayers

Prayer for After Confession

“Dear Jesus, I have told all my sins to the best of my ability.
I have sincerely tried to make a good confession and I know that you have forgiven me.
Thank you dear Jesus! Your divine heart is full of love and mercy for poor sinners.
I love You dear Jesus; you are so good to me.
My loving Saviour, I shall try to keep from sin and to love You more each day.”

“Dearest Mother Mary, pray for me and help me to keep all my promises.
Protect me and do not let me fall back into sin.
Dear God, help me to lead a good life.
Without Your grace I can do nothing. Amen.”

Prayers for Communion 

The Giving of Communion

“The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee,
preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee,
and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee,
preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee,
and be thankful.”

Communion Prayer

“The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in
everlasting life. Amen.”

Blessing on the Bread

“O God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ,
to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it,
that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son,
and witness unto thee, O God, the eternal Father,
that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son,
and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them,
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

Blessing on the Wine

“Eternal God, we ask you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ,
to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who receive it,
that they may drink in remembrance of the blood of your Son which was shed for them,
that they may witness to you, O God, that they do always remember him,
that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

Anima Christi

“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 Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee.”

The Prayer of St. Gertrude

You can find the St. Gertrude Prayer here.

St. Michael Prayer

You can find the St Michael Prayer here.

Prayer to our Suffering Savior for the Souls in Purgatory

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

(As you pray for the Souls in purgatory, state your intention(s) here, as you can request that they pray for you. Meditate on the favor you hope to obtain from God during this novena.)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever.

Daily Prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

You can find the Daily Prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory here.

Out of the Depths Prayer (De Profundis)

Out of the depths I cry to You,
O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication:
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?
But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered.
I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word.
My soul waits for the Lord,
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the Lord;
For with the Lord is kindness
and with Him is plenteous redemption;
And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

Grace Prayers

You can find the grace prayers (dinner prayers) here.