A few of our favourite catholic prayers

The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 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 delivery us from evil. Amen.


Hail Mary

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art though 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.


I Confess

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.  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 Pontious Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sits 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 Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.


Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.  And you shall renew the face of the earth.   Let us pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Sprit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation.


Prayer to God the Father

God be in my head, and in my understanding;  God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking;  God be at mine end, and at my departing.


Prayer to Our Lord

Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work.  I give you my feet to go your way.  I give you my eyes to see as you do.  I give you my tongue to speak your words.  I give you my mind that you may think in me.  I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.  Above all, I give you my heart that you may love in me,  your Father, and all mankind. I give you you my whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in me.


Prayer for Peace

O God, source of holy desires, right counsels and just actions, grant to your servants that peace which the world cannot give, so that our hearts may be wholly devoted to your service, and all our days, freed from dread of our enemies, may be passed in quietness under your protection.


The Memorare

Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that it is a think unheard of, that anyone ever had recourse to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, and was left forsaken.  Filled therefore with the confidence in your goodness I fly to you, O Mother, Virgin of virgins.  To you I come, before you I stand a sorrowful sinner.  Despise not my poor words, O Mother of the Word of God, but graciously hear and grant my prayer.


Request of the Guardian Angel

Guardian angel, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here: ever this day/night be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.


Instrument of Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, let me sow pardon; where there is doubt, let me sow faith; where there is despair, let me give hope; where there is darkness, let me bring light; where there is sadness, let me give joy.  O Divine Master, grant that I may try not to be comforted, but to comfort; not to be understood, but to understand; not to be loved, but to love.  Because it is in giving that we receive; it is in forgiving that we are forgiven, and it is in dying that we rise to eternal life. 

(Based on St Francis of Assisi)

Prayer of St Ignatius

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and to ask for no reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord

Amen.