Words and symbols in red indicate an action to perform.
+ : make the sign of the cross.
^ : bow your head.
& : bow deeply from the waist or
kneel or prostrate yourself for a few seconds. Do whatever is comfortable for you. This is to engage your body in
prayer, and to teach it humility.
Words in green italics offer explanations.
The word "catholic" when spelled with a
lower-case "c" means all those Churches which have valid Holy Orders
and sacraments, as explained in this post.
1) I numbered the prayers because I found it
easier to memorize them this way.
Signum Crucis/The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2)
Glory be to Thee, O our God, glory be to Thee!
3)*
O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art
everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of blessings,
and Giver of life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity, and of
Thy goodness, save our souls.
4)
Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal. Have mercy on
us. 3 times
5) Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".
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.
6)
Most holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, cleanse us
from our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
7)
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
8) Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".
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.
9)
Pater Noster/The Lord's Prayer
Sometimes I pray both the Latin and English, but
usually just the English.
Pater noster,
qui es in caelis: sanctificètur nomen tuum; advèniat regnum tuum;
fiat volùntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in
terra. Panem nostrum quotidià num da nobis hòdie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimìttimus debitòribus nostris;
et
ne nos indùcas in tentatiònem; sed libera nos a malo. Quia tuum est regnum,
et potèstas, et glòria in sà ecula. Amen.
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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
10)
Morning Prayer to the Holy Trinity
Arising from sleep I thank Thee, O holy Trinity, that, for
the sake of Thy great kindness and long-suffering, Thou wast not
wroth with me, slothful and sinful as I am; neither hast Thou destroyed me in
my transgressions: but in Thy compassion hast raised me up, as I lay in
despair; that at dawn I might sing the glories of Thy Majesty. Do Thou
now enlighten the eyes of my understanding. Open my mouth to receive Thy words.
Teach me Thy commandments. Help me to do Thy will, confessing Thee from my
heart, singing and praising Thine all-holy Name: of the Father + and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Amen.
11)
Credo
The Nicene Creed
I believe + in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord ^ Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
He came down from heaven,
&
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin
Mary,
and became man.
Rise
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius
Pilate,
He suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and His kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is adored and
glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
12)
The Invitatory of the Liturgy of the Hours
Make the sign of the cross over your lips while
reciting "O Lord...lips".
V. O Lord, open Thou my lips,
R. and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Recite antiphon**
Repeat antiphon
This is the text of Psalm 95 as found in the New
American Standard Bible (NASB), which is the version I used when I memorized
this psalm. Use whatever version you like.
A song of praise of David.
The Masoretic text from which the NASB is translated
does not include this title for the psalm. The title comes from the Septuagint.
O come, let us sing
for joy to the Lord,
let us shout joyfully to the
rock of our salvation.
Let us come
before His presence with thanksgiving,
let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Repeat antiphon
For the Lord is a great God
and a great King above
all gods,
in whose hand are the depths
of the earth,
the peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who
made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
Repeat antiphon
&
Come, let us worship
and bow down,
let us kneel
before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
and we
are the people of His pasture
and the sheep of His hand.
Rise
Repeat antiphon
Today, if
you would hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
As in the day of Massah in
the wilderness,
When your fathers tested
Me,
they tried Me, though they had seen My work.
Repeat antiphon
For forty
years I loathed that generation,
and said, "They are a people who err in their
heart,
and they do not know My ways."
Therefore I swore
in My anger,
"Truly they shall not enter into My rest."
Repeat antiphon
Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".
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.
Repeat antiphon
13)
Psalms
I developed a guide that takes me through the entire
book of Psalms in a month. It's
here.
Commemoration of the Living
14)
Remember, O Lord ^ Jesus Christ our God, Thy
mercies and compassions which have been from everlasting, and for the sake of
which Thou didst become man and deign to endure crucifixion and death for the
salvation of all who rightly believe in Thee. Thou didst rise from the dead and
ascend into the heavens and sittest on the right hand of God the
Father, and regardest the humble prayers of all who call upon Thee
with their whole heart. Incline Thine ear, and hearken to the humble entreaty
of me, Thine unprofitable servant, who offer it for an odor of a spiritual
savor for all Thy people. Amen. &
15)
And first, remember Thy One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church, which Thou hast purchased through Thy precious Blood. Confirm and
strengthen it. Enlarge and multiply it. Keep it in peace and preserve it
unconquerable by the gates of Hell forever. Heal the schism of the Churches.
Quench the ragings of the heathen. Speedily undo and root out the
growths of heresy, and bring them to naught by the power of Thy Holy Spirit.
Amen. &
16)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all civil
authorities at every level in every land, especially upon our
president, (N.), upon our vice president, (N.), upon the members
of the President's Cabinet, upon the governors and vice-governors of
the several states and the members of their cabinets, upon the members
of the federal and state Congresses, upon the justices of the Supreme, federal,
state and civil courts, and upon all local authorities. May they be people of
good character, integrity, and wisdom, and may they legislate, govern, and
adjudicate according to the rule of law, and especially according to the
rule of Thy eternal Law. Speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Thy
holy Church and for all Thy peoples, that we may live a calm and tranquil life,
enjoying the right belief and all virtuous and godly living. Amen. &
17)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy
upon Pope (N.), the most holy ecumenical patriarchs, the most
reverend metropolitans, the archbishops and bishops, the priests and deacons,
and the whole clergy of Thy Church, which Thou hast established to feed the
flock of Thy Word, and by their prayers have mercy upon me, and save me, a
sinner. Amen. &
18)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my grandparents (N.'s); my parents, (N.'s); my siblings (N.'s); my [other
family members] (N.'s), and the rest of
my kinsmen. Help us to love Thee with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Call
us to become Thy children and to seek the fullness of Thy truth.
Bless us with good health, good friendships, and all our daily needs. Grant
that we may grow in our love for each other, and serve Thee and each other in
humility and gladness. Strengthen our marriages, and nurture our children. May
we each search for Thee with all our heart, and ever trust in Thy great mercy.
Deliver us from the power of sin and the fear of death, protect us from all
harm and danger, and may Thy holy angels be ever watchful over us. Give unto us
Thy grace that we may uproot every vice from our lives and grow in every
virtue unto the glory of Thy great and holy name. Amen. &
19)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all of my current and
former friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers, fellow church
members, neighbors, benefactors, and acquaintances, and all
of their families, especially (N.'s) and
grant them Thy blessings both here and hereafter. Amen. &
20)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the priests and
spiritual directors who have assisted me in my faith, and their
families, especially (N.'s) and grant them Thy blessings both here
and hereafter. Amen. &
21)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the old and the young, the
needy, the orphans, and the widows, and all who are in sickness and sorrow, in
distress and affliction, in oppression and captivity, in prison and
confinement, especially (N.). Have mercy upon those who, though separated
from Thy holy Church, are being persecuted because they have
faith in ^ Jesus, especially (N.)***. More especially have mercy upon
Thy servants who are under persecution for Thy sake and for the sake of the
catholic faith at the hands of heathen nations, of apostates, and of heretics,
especially (N.)****. Remember them, visit, strengthen, and comfort them,
and make haste to grant them by Thy power relief, freedom, and
deliverance. Amen. &
22)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all who are sent on duty,
especially (N.), all who travel, all who go as missionaries with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and upon all Christians. Amen. &
23)
Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon those who envy and affront
my family and me and do or have done us mischief. Let them not perish through
me, a sinner. Grant them conversion of heart, and grant that we may forgive
them and seek their good. Amen. &
I intentionally do not include names here because I
find that doing so feeds my anger towards these people, and makes forgiving them harder.
24)
Those who depart from the True Faith, dazzled by
destroying heresies, those who are in schismatic faith communities and
heretical sects, and all who are atheists, agnostics, or who follow or
believe false religions or philosophies, do Thou enlighten by the light of Thy
holy wisdom, and unite them to Thy One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Amen. &
25)
I beg and beseech Thee, O Lord, grant to all who have gone
astray a true knowledge of Thee, so that each and every one may come to know
Thy glory. Amen. &
Commemoration of the Dead
26)
Remember, O Lord, those who have departed this
life, popes, Christian rulers, holy patriarchs, most reverend
metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all who served Thee in the
priesthood and ministry of the Church and in the monastic order; and grant them
rest with Thy saints in Thy eternal habitations. Amen. &
27)
Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants now fallen
asleep, especially my kinsmen (N.'s); my friends, acquaintances, and
spiritual and material benefactors, especially (N.'s); the Catholics whose
lives inspired and influenced me, especially (N.'s); the Protestants whose
lives inspired and influenced me, especially (N.'s); the deceased members of
Courage and EnCourage; and those who experienced homosexual attractions and
struggled with or rebelled against the Christian faith, especially Oscar
Wilde, Andy Warhol, and (N.'s); and the deceased family, friends, colleagues, and
associates of all the above-mentioned people. Forgive them all their
sins wittingly or unwittingly committed; grant them Thy kingdom, and
a portion in Thy eternal blessings, and enjoyment of Thine unending life.
Amen. &
29)
Grant, O Lord, to all who have gone before us in faith and
in hope of the resurrection, remission of sins. Keep them in everlasting
remembrance, and place them with Thy saints, where shineth the light
of Thy countenance, for Thou art gracious and lovest mankind. Amen. &
30)
In the case of all who have passed from this world lacking a
virtuous life or having had no faith or having not believed the True
Faith, be an advocate for them, Lord, for the sake of the body which Thou didst
take from them, so that from the single united body of the world we may offer
up praise to Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit in the kingdom of heaven,
an unending source of eternal delight. Amen. &
31)
Prayer at the Beginning of the Day
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me
in all things to rely upon Thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Thy
will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all
that cometh to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction
that Thy will governeth all. In all my deeds and words guide my
thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent
by Thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, as a man, without
embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue
of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to
pray, pray Thou Thyself in me. Amen. &
32)
Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Dear Angel, in His goodness God gave you to me to guide,
protect, and enlighten me, and to bring me back to the right way when I go
astray. Encourage me when I am disheartened, and instruct me when I err
in judgment. Help me to become more Christ-like, and so some day
to be accepted into the company of angels and saints in heaven. Amen. No more bows.
33)
Prayers to the Patron Saint
O saint of God, Joseph the Betrothed, pray to God for me,
for my home, and my family. Amen.
34)
Pray to God for me, O Saint Joseph the
Betrothed, well-pleasing to God, for I eagerly betake myself to
thee, who art the speedy helper and intercessor for my soul. Amen.
35)
Benediction
It is very meet and right to call thee blessed, who didst
bring forth God, ever blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God. More
honorable than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, who without spot
didst bear the Eternal Word, thee, very Mother of God, we laud and
magnify.
36)
Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".
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.
37)
O Lord ^ Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of
the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of Saint Joseph the Betrothed, and of all
Thy saints, have mercy upon us, and save us, for Thou art a merciful God,
and lovest mankind. Amen.
38)
Signum Crucis/The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*From Pascha to the Ascension, instead of the
"Heavenly King", pray:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by
death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! 3 times
*From the Ascension to its leavetaking, pray:
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
bringing joy to Thy disciples, for Thou didst reassure them through Thy
blessing of the promise of the Holy Spirit, for Thou art the Son of God, the
Redeemer of the world.
*On the Saturday before Pentecost, omit "Heavenly
King" and go directly to the Trisagion Prayer
**Note on the antiphon: it changes depending on the day of
the week and/or the season of the Church year and/or the feast day on the
Church's calendar. In my daily prayers, I use this every day as the antiphon:
"Today if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" because
I need the daily reminder to not harden my heart against the Holy Spirit.
