"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."

St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens. "

St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"The supreme perfection of man in this life is to be so united to God that all his soul with all its faculties and powers are so gathered into the Lord God that he becomes one spirit with him, and remembers nothing except God, is aware of and recognises nothing but God, but with all his desires unified by the joy of love, he rests contentedly in the enjoyment of his Maker alone."

St Albert the Great

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"Whoever prays is certainly saved. He who does not is certainly damned. All the blessed (except infants) have been saved by prayer. All the damned have been lost through not praying. If they had prayed they would not have been lost. And this is, and will be their greatest torment in hell: to think how easily they might have been saved, just by asking God for His grace, but that now it is too late - their time of prayer is gone." - St Alphonsus Liguori, doctor of the Church

BASIC CATHOLIC PRAYERS

The following basic prayers are taken from the Penny Catechism as used in the US for many years. The imprimatur of the document from which these prayers were collected was granted in 1971. The Apostles' Creed appears first because of the teaching purpose of the catechism.


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 into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven;
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.

THE LORD'S PRAYER
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.

THE 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.

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.

MORNING OFFERING
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, sufferings of this day
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.
I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart:
the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, reunion of all Christians.
I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops,
and of all Apostles of Prayer,
and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

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 can neither deceive nor be deceived.

ACT OF HOPE
O my God, relying on Your infinite goodness and promises,
I hope to obtain pardon of my sins,
the help of Your grace, and life everlasting,
through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

ACT OF CHARITY
O my God, I love You above all things,
with my whole heart and soul,
because You are all-good and worthy of all love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You.
I forgive all who have injured me,
and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

ACT OF CONTRITION
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee,
and I detest all my sins
because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell,
but most of all because they offend thee, my God,
who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

THE HOLY ROSARY

The Five Joyful Mysteries:
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Birth of our Lord
4. The Presentation
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The Five Mysteries of Light
(introduced by John Paul II in Encyclical ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE on 16 Oct 2002. Full Encyclical or Mysteries of Light only. Said on Thursdays)
1. Our Lord's Baptism in the Jordan,
2. Our Lord's self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana,
3. Our Lord's proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with his call to conversion,
4. Our Lord's Transfiguration
5. Our Lord's institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries:
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning with Thorns
4. The Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord

The Five Glorious Mysteries:
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of our Lady

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
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 the valley 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.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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 you, 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.

A PLENARY INDULGENCE may be gained (under the usual
conditions) when the Rosary is prayed in Church, in a
family group or in a religious community.


V. May the Divine assistance remain always with us.
R. May the souls of the faithful departed, through
your mercy, O God, rest in peace.

DEVOTIONAL PRAYERS

THE ANGELUS
During the year (outside Eastertime)
V. The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done to me according to your word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Your Grace into our
hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your
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.
R. Amen.

THE REGINA COELI

During Eastertime (Easter to Pentecost)
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia,
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia
Has risen as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia
R. For the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

LET US PRAY
O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we may obtain through His Virgin Mother, Mary, the joys of everlasting life, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

A PARTIAL INDULGENCE is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite the above prayer according to the formula indicated for the time of the year. (of Enchir. Indul. 9).

PEACE PLAN FROM HEAVEN
In 1917, at Fatima, Portugal, Our Lady gave us a "Peace Plan From Heaven": Break with sin; Do penance and make reparation for sin; Pray the Rosary daily; On 5 first Saturdays: make a good confession, Receive Holy Communion worthily, Pray 5 decades of the Rosary and meditate for fifteen minutes on the mysteries. Do this in a spirit of reparation to Mary's Immaculate Heart; Wear the brown scapular as a sign of consecration to Mary.


DECADE PRAYER: "O my Jesus: Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fire of Hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy".

ACT OF CONSECRATION
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, and tender Mother of men, in accordance with your ardent wish revealed at Fatima, I consecrate to you myself, my country, and all my fellow neighbors.
Reign over our hearts, dearest Mother, so that we may be truly followers of Christ and His teachings, in prosperity and adversity, in joy and sorrow, in health and sickness, in life and death.
I want to atone for all my sins and those of all mankind. I desire God's blessing on my country and the whole world, peace between all nations, with love and justice practiced by all. Amen.

FOR PURITY
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I entrust and consecrate myself entirely to you - mind, heart and body. Guard and defend me always from every sin.
May my mind be uplifted to heavenly things, may my heart love God more and more, may I avoid every evil occasion. Hold me close to you, so that I may keep watch of my internal and external senses. Preserve me from all impurity, and help me to serve you with undefiled mind, pure heart and chaste body, so that in heaven I may join the blessed company of the saints.

MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you 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 me. Amen.

SOUL OF CHRIST, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins.
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains.
Passion of Christ, my comfort be.
O good Jesus, listen to me.
Within your wounds, fain would I hide.
Never more to be parted from your side.
Guard me when the foe assails me.
Call me, when this life shall fail me.
Bid me come to you above.
With your Saints to sing your love,
World without end. Amen.

MIRACULOUS MEDAL PRAYER
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

ASPIRATION
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I die in peace, and in your blessed company.

A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted at the hour of death when a priest cannot be present to give the Sacraments and the Apostolic Blessing, provided that during life one habitually said some prayers. The conditions "provided that during life one habitually said some prayers" in this case supplies for the three usual conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence.
(cf. Enchir. Indul. 28)


THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION

PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX: "O good and gentle Jesus,
before Thy face I humbly kneel and with the greatest fervor of spirit I beg and beseech of Thee to implant firmly into my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity; contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. Meanwhile, I meditate on Thy five most precious wounds, having ever before my eyes the words of David, the Prophet, concerning Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet. They have numbered all my bones."

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard 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, cast into hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.