Prayers are very important and a way of life for all Catholic Christians like members of Families in Christ Jesus Community. Since we are a united church, here are some prayers that can help in our personal, family and even prayer gatherings. Just click on the icon to view the prayers for that category.
FCJC Prayers
Morning Prayer:
Before praying the Morning Prayer...
Read Psalm 95 1.Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; cry out to the rock of our salvation. 2. Let us come before him with a song of praise, joyfully sing out our psalms. 3. For the LORD is the great God, the great king over all gods, 4. Whose hand holds the depths of the earth; who owns the tops of the mountains. 5. The sea and dry land belong to God, who made them, formed them by hand. 6. Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. 7. For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 8. Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert. 9. There your ancestors tested me; they tried me though they had seen my works. 10. Forty years I loathed that generation; I said: “This people’s heart goes astray; they do not know my ways.” 11. Therefore I swore in my anger: “They shall never enter my rest.”
Mark 1:35 “Rising early the next morning, (Jesus) went off to a lonely place in the desert; there he was absorbed in prayer”.
Luke 1: 78-79 “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace”.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, as You Yourself prayerfully thank our Father in heaven for each new day. I too begin this day by thanking You. “Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise”. Lord, I receive this day as a personal gift of Love from You. I thank You, I praise You and glorify You.
Today once again Lord, I ask You to be with me at every moment. Guide me Lord and protect me. Give me the grace to live in your presence and to be able to take advantage of all the opportunities for doing good.
Sometime today, Lord, give me a Divine Appointment. Give me the grace to meet someone I can bring to You. Someone who does not know You or has refused to love and follow You.
Give me today too Lord, the grace to be able to do anything that I may be called upon to suffer, so that the Good News might reach their ears, their minds, and their hearts.
Dear Mother Mary, my mother and my queen, Star of Evangelization pray with me and for me that my day might become evangelistic and abundantly fruitful. AMEN.
Evening Prayer:
Before praying the Evening Prayer read Luke 6:12
“Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, spending the night in communion with God.”
Read Luke 1:46-55
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.”
Read Psalm 63: 6-8
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for another good day You gifted me with. I did not do well enough. But, through Your grace, help, and inspiration, I accomplished something.
Let the fruits of this day prove eternal, multiplying themselves from person to person and continuing from one generation to the next.
With Your help, I will try to do more and hopefully even better tomorrow. I now ask your Holy Spirit within me to continue giving our Heavenly Father His rightful praise, as I take my rest.
Thank you, once again dearest Lord, for a fruitful day. There were difficulties and failures, but because You and Your Mother Mary, my queen and my mother were with me, the day was joyful and holy.
For this I gratefully praise and adore You. Tonight, please send your angels to me and my family to protect us from all evil. AMEN
PARENT'S PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY
Jesus, only begotten Son of the Eternal Father, beloved Son of the Blessed Virgin and foster Child of St. Joseph, we most fervently implore You, through Mary, Your ever Blessed Mother, and Your adopted Father, St. Joseph, take our children under Your special charge and enclose them in the love of Your Sacred Heart.
They are the children of Your Father in heaven, who were created after His own image. They are Your possession, for You have purchased them with Your precious blood. They are temples of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified them in baptism and implanted in their hearts the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
O most loving Jesus, rule and guide them, that they may live according to our holy faith, that they may not waver in their confidence in You and may ever remain faithful in Your love.
O Mary, blessed mother of Jesus, grant to our Children a place in your pure maternal Heart! Spread over them your protecting mantle when danger threatens their innocence. Keep them firm when they are about to stray from the path of virtue. And should they have the misfortune to fall, then raise them up again, and reconcile them with your Divine Son.
And you, O holy foster father, St. Joseph, do not abandon our children! Protect them from the assaults of the wicked enemy, and deliver them from all dangers of soul and body.
O dear parents of the holy Child Jesus, intercede for us also, that we may bring up our children in the love and fear of God, and one day attain with them the beatific vision.
Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
O Virgin Mary, most powerful Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and Earth, in accordance with your wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate myself today to your Immaculate Heart. To you I entrust all that I have and all that I am. Reign over me, dearest Mother, that I may be yours in prosperity, in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death.
Most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over my mind and heart and preserve me from the deluge of impurity, which you lamented so sorrowfully at Fatima. I want to be pure like you. I want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and you. I want to call down upon this country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.
Mindful of this consecration, I now promise to strive to imitate you by the practice of the Christian virtues without regard to human respect. I resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month when possible, and to offer daily five decades of the Rosary, with all my sacrifices in the spirit of penance and reparation. Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY FAMILY
O Jesus our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou protect us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace and concord in Christian love: in order that by living according to the divine pattern of Thy Family we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain eternal happiness.
Mary dear mother of Jesus and mother of us all, by thy kindly intercession, make this, our humble offering, acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.
O Saint Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, help us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal needs, so that we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.
(Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary and three Glory Be’s.) Amen
THE FCJC FAMILY PRAYER
Almighty God and Father, we come before You, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name; and we pray that You will bestow upon our family Your gifts, in keeping with the riches of Your glory.
May You strengthen us inwardly through the help of Your Holy Spirit.
May Christ Jesus Your Son, dwell in our hearts through faith, and may love be the root and foundation of our lives.
And finally, may You give us the grace to be able to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love. Amen (Eph.3:13-18)
Act OF CONSECRATION
TO SAINT JOSEPH
O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you, that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.
After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
Common Catholic English Prayers
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. 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, world without end. 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 rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; 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.
Prayers to Our Lady: The Rosary
The six fundamental prayers listed above are also part of the Catholic rosary, a devotion dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God. (CCC 971) The rosary consists of fifteen decades. Each decade focuses upon a particular mystery in the life of Christ and his Blessed Mother. It is customary to say five decades at a time, while meditating upon one set of mysteries.
Joyful Mysteries (Prayed Every Monday and Saturday)
I. The Annunciation
II. The Visitation
III. The Birth of our Lord
IV. The Presentation of our Lord
V. The Finding of our Lord in the Temple
Sorrowful Mysteries (Prayed Every Tuesday and Friday)
I. The Agony in the Garden
II. The Scourging at the Pillar
III. The Crowning with Thorns
IV. The Carrying of the Cross
V. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord
Glorious Mysteries (Prayed Every Sunday and Wednesday)
I. The Resurrection
II. The Ascension
III. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
IV. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven
V. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
Luminous Mysteries (Prayed Every Thursday)
I. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
II. The Wedding Feast at Cana
III. The Proclamation of the KIngdom
IV. The Transfiguration
V. The Institution of the Eucharist
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our light, 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 vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards 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.
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 with this confidence, we turn to thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To thee we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, do not despise our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen.
The Angelus
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived 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.
R. 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.
Prayer Before Meals
Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. 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.
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and 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, the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all the apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.
Evening prayer
O my God, at the end of this day I thank you most heartily for all the graces I have received from you. I am sorry that I have not made a better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against you. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear guardian angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory.
(Generally, this evening prayer is followed by an act of contrition, which is usually said in conjunction with an examination of conscience. A daily examination of conscience consists of a brief recounting of our actions during the day. What sins did we commit? Where did we fail? In what areas of our lives can we strive to make virtuous progress? Having determined our failures and sins, we make an act of contrition.)
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.
Prayer after Mass: Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, make me holy. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, fill me with love. Water from Christ’s side, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. Good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds, hide me. Never let me be parted from you. From the evil enemy, protect me. At the hour of my death, call me, and tell me to come to you that with your saints I may praise you through all eternity. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Come, Holy Spirit
Come, O 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 Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Joseph
O glorious Saint Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary, ever virgin, and the head of the Holy Family. You have been chosen by Christ’s vicar as the heavenly patron and protector of the Church founded by Christ.
Protect the Holy Father, our sovereign pontiff, and all bishops and priests united with him. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life, and grant that all peoples of the world may follow Christ and the Church he founded.
Dear St. Joseph, accept the offering I make to you. Be my father, protector, and guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me purity of heart and a love for the spiritual life. After your example, let all my actions be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart. Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen.
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense 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 the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Common Catholic Latin Prayers
Sign of the Cross
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen
Lord’s Prayer - Our Father (Oratio Dominicae - Pater noster)
PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
Hail Mary Salutatio Angelica (Ave Maria)
AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Domini nostri, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Glory Be Doxologia Minor (Gloria Patri)
GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed Symbolum Apostolorum
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
SALVE REGINA, Mater misericordiae. Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae. Ad te Suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Christi Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Memorare
Memorare, o piisima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia esse derelicta. Nos tali animati confidentia ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, currimus; ad te venimus; coram te gementes peccatores assistimus. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba nostra despicere, sed audi propitia et exaudi. R. Amen.
The Angelus
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae;
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
All. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Domini nostri, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
V. Ecce ancilla Domini.
R. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
All. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Domini nostri, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
V. Et Verbum caro factum est.
R. Et habitavit in nobis.
All. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Domini nostri, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Christi Genetrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
V. Oremus. Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. All. Amen.
Daily Prayers:
Prayer Before Meals
Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Prayer to Our Guardian Angel
Angele Dei,
qui custos es mei,
me, tibi commissum pietate superna,
illumina, custodi,
rege et guberna.
Amen.
Act of Contrition
Deus meus, ex toto corde poenitet me omnium meorum peccatorum, eaque detestor, quia peccando, non solum poenas a Te iuste statutas promeritus sum, sed praesertim quia offendi Te, summum bonum, ac dignum qui super omnia diligaris. Ideo firmiter propono, adiuvante gratia Tua, de cetero me non peccaturum peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum. Amen.
Prayer after Mass:
Anima Christi
Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te.
In saecula saeculorum.
Amen
Prayers to the Holy Spirit:
Come, Holy Spirit
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium: et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur. R. Et renovabis faciem terrae. Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere; et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum.
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
(Eucharist Adoration & Benediction)
Exposition: O Salutaris
O salutaris Hostia
Quae caeli pandis ostium;
Bella premunt hostilla,
Da robur, fer auxillium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria. Amen.
Adoration:
During this period there should be appropriate prayers, songs, readings from scripture, and a brief homily to help the congregation focus its attention to the worship of the Lord. Remember that we are in the “Real Presence” of Jesus Christ.
Benediction: Tantum Ergo
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernul,
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritul;
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectful.
Genitori Gentioque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio;
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
Priest/Deacon: You have given them Bread from heaven (P.T. Alleluia)
ALL: Having all sweetness with it (P.T. Alleluia)
Priest/Deacon: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood, help us to experience the salvation won for us and the peace of the kingdom, where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
ALL: Amen.
The celebrant will then bless all present with the Eucharist.
Reposition
When the priest or deacon has blessed everyone he then replaces the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects. The following acclamation may be said at this time. This acclamation is called the Divine Praises.
Devine Praises
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 St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
Amen.
Final Hymn
Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
All on earth they scepter claim;
All in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite they vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign!
Hark, the loud celestial hymn;
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord