Internet Prayer Booklet

     The Italian mystic Maria Valtorta quotes Jesus as saying: "Prayer is conversation of the heart with God-- and it should be habitual". You can and should talk to God in your own way. However, here are some traditional prayers in case they may be useful to you.

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 deliver us from evil.
(For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory.) Amen.

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. 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, and the third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, from whence 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.

Oh My Jesus:

     Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.

Hail Holy Queen:

     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 this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy on us and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Oh clement, o loving, oh sweet Virgin Mary,
     Pray for us, oh holy Mother of God.
     That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Grace before and after meals:

Before meals:
     Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After meals:
     We give thee thanks, almighty God, for all the benefits we have received from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

An Act of Contrition:

     Oh 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 I have offended thee, my God, who art 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.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

     Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of thy love.
Send forth thy spirit and they shall be created.
And thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Memorare:

     Remember, oh 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, oh Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer to One's Guardian Angel:

     Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, be ever this day (night) at my side, to light and to guard, to rule and to guide. Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:

     Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in this day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou oh prince of the heavenly hosts by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Morning Offering:

     O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer thee all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of thy Sacred heart, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my associates, and in particular for the general intentions recommended this month by the Holy Father. Amen.

The Angelus:

The angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done to me according to thy word. Hail Mary...

And the Word was made flesh.
And dwelt among us. Hail Mary...

Pray for us, oh holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

     Pour forth, we beseech thee, oh Lord, thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and death be brought to glory of His resurrection, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

     The rosary is a longer prayer, composed of many of the prayers given above. While saying them we meditate on events in the lives of Mary and Christ, mysteries of our redemption.

• Introduction:
  • The Sign of the Cross
  • The Apostles' Creed (prayed on the crucifix)
  • 1 Our Father ("Our Father's" are said on the large beads, or those set off from the others by a length of chain)
  • 3 Hail Mary's (for an increase of faith, hope, and charity; "Hail Mary's" are said on all the other beads)
  • Glory Be
  • Oh My Jesus
• Five decades, each consisting of the following: (As you say a decade, you can think about one of the mysteries, given below)
  • 1 Our Father
  • 10 Hail Mary's
  • Glory Be
  • Oh My Jesus
• Conclusion:
  • The Sign of the Cross (often preceded by other prayers, such as the "Hail Holy Queen")

• The Joyful Mysteries

  1. The Annunciation (the angel announces to Mary she is to be the Mother of God)
  2. The Visitation (Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth)
  3. The Nativity (Jesus is born at Bethlehem)
  4. The Presentation of the Infant Jesus at the Temple
  5. The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple

• The Luminous Mysteries

  1. The Baptism of Our Lord
  2. Jesus' First Miracle, at the Wedding Feast of Cana
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
  4. The Transfiguration
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist

• The Sorrowful Mysteries

  1. The Agony in the Garden
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar
  3. The Crowning with Thorns
  4. Jesus Carries His Cross
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

• The Glorious Mysteries

  1. The Resurrection of Our Lord from the Dead
  2. The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven
  3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
  4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
  5. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven

     You may of course use any set of mysteries on any day, but the following order was recommended by Pope John Paul II depending on the day of the week: