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

Glory Be

The Apostle's Creed

Anima Christi

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartfully sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishment, but most of all because I have offended thee my God, who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

Morning Offering

Dear Lord, I do not know what will happen to me today — I only know that nothing will happen that was not foreseen by you and directed to my greater good from all eternity. I adore your holy and unfathomable plans, and submit to them with all my heart for love of you, the pope, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.

Prayer of Surrender

Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my understanding, and my will. All that I have and cherish you have given to me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your love and your grace are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more. Amen.

The traditional monastic practice of Lectio Divina is a good way to help us deal with stress and provide a way to enter into sacred Scripture as a living word for our time.

The focus of Lectio Divina is not a critical analysis of sacred text, but rather a more personal way of experiencing the word through contemplation and reflection.  Although any scripture passage can be used, Lectio is an excellent way of preparing for the Sunday proclamation of the Gospel.

The traditional practice of Lectio Divina has 4 parts: Lectio (read), Meditatio (meditate), Oratio (pray) and Contemplatio (contemplate). As the scripture text is read multiple times, it allows us to go deeper and deeper into the text.

To pray Lectio Divina, you will need a copy of Scripture (you can find a free, online copy of the Bible on our "What We Believe" page!). A pen and a notebook are also helpful to write down your thoughts, reflections and prayers. Find a place that is free from distractions. This prayer usually takes about half an hour.

Begin by quieting yourself and becoming aware of your breathing. Let go of the concerns of the day and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your reflection. You may want to repeat the verse from Psalm 46:10 over and over again: “Be still and know I am God.”

Lectio (read)

In this first step, read the selected Scripture passage aloud slowly and intentionally. Use your imagination to place yourself into the story. Pretend that you are in the story. What do you see and feel? What are you experiencing? Take some time to pause and reflect on the experience. You may want to write down your reflections.

Meditatio (meditate)

Read the passage aloud slowly again and open yourself to the Holy Spirit as you ponder the text. Pay attention to the word or phrase that strikes you. You may want to underline or circle it. How is God speaking to you in this word or phrase? Take some time again to reflect and write down your thoughts.

Oratio (pray)

Read the passage aloud slowly once again and let the words be your prayer, allow the words to be a response to God for the particular situations in your life. Pause again. You can write your own prayer to the Father.

Contemplatio (contemplation)

Read the prayer aloud slowly one final time. Listen to the words and rest in the love of God. Contemplative prayer leads us into silence so that we can listen to what God is saying.

You may want to end the prayer experience of Lectio Divina with your own prayer of praise and thanksgiving followed by an Our Father, Hail Mary and a Glory Be.

Contemplating God’s word through Lectio Divina lets the Holy Spirit inspire and guide us each day. The life of Jesus can speak to the situations in our own lives, both joyous and challenging. Taking time to read and reflect on the daily readings, especially the upcoming Sunday Gospel is a way to encounter Jesus anew, grow daily as his disciples and witness to his love and mercy.

source: https://www.unleashthegospel.org/2020/07/a-guide-to-the-lectio-divina-prayer-style/

For more information about Lectio Divina, visit these links:

How to Pray Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina:
A Visual Step-by-Step

Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina

Rosary beads, while not necessary to pray these prayers, are used to help Catholics count their prayers. Catholics often pray the rosary to make a request to God, some to thank God for blessings received or for requesting a special favour, for example if someone is sick to help them recover.    

1.    On the crucifix (cross), make the sign of the cross and then pray 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 Ghost, 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, sitteth 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. 

2.    On the next large bead, say the 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.

3.    On the following three small beads, pray three Hail Marys.

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.

4.    On the chain, pray The Glory Be.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

5.    On the large bead, meditate on the first mystery and pray the Our Father.

You pray mysteries for each of the five sections (decades) of the rosary according to the day of the week:

Mondays and Saturdays:

The Joyful Mysteries remind the faithful of Christ’s birth: The Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38); The Visitation (Luke 1:39–56); The Nativity (Luke 2:1–21); The Presentation (Luke 2:22–38); The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–52)

Tuesdays and Fridays:

The Sorrowful Mysteries recall Jesus’ passion and death: The Agony of Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:36–56); The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26); The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27–31); The Carrying of the Cross (Matthew 27:32); The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–56).

Wednesdays and Sundays:

The Glorious Mysteries focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the glories of heaven: The Resurrection (John 20:1–29); The Ascension (Luke 24:36–53); The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–41); The Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God, into heaven; The Coronation of Mary in heaven.

Thursdays:

Pope John Paul II added The Mysteries of Light, also known as the Luminous Mysteries, in 2002: The Baptism in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13–16); The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1–11); The Preaching of the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15); The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8); The Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matthew 26). 

6.    Skip the centerpiece medallion, and on the ten beads after that, pray a Hail Mary on each bead; on the chain, pray a Glory Be.

Although a decade is 10, these 12 prayers form a decade of the rosary.

Many Catholics add the Fatima Prayer after the Glory Be and before the next Our Father: O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

7.    Repeat Steps 5 and 6 four more times to finish the next four decades.

8.    At the end of your Rosary, say the 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 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.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; 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.

source: https://www.corpus.wa.edu.au/news-blog/2020/5/1/how-to-pray-the-rosary

USCCB: How to pray the Rosary

USCCB: Rosary for America (video)

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 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.

Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
We fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to thee do we come, before thee we stand,
sinful and sorrowful,
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen.

The Angelus (typically prayed at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm)
Leader: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
Response: And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Leader: Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Response: Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Leader: And the Word was made Flesh.
Response (kneel, genuflect, or bow head):And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
Response: that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Leader: Let us pray.
All: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom theIncarnation 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.

Miraculous Medal Prayer
O Mary, Conceived without Sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and for those who do not have recourse to thee, especially the enemies of the Church. Amen.

Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grace After Meals
We give thee thanks for all thy benefits, O Almighty God, who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

After either of the above prayers, the following can be said:
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Saint Michael Prayer
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,
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer
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.