Traditional Roman Catholic Prayers

Some traditional Roman Catholic prayers are the Act of Contrition, the Angelus, the Salve Regina, the Angel's Prayer, the Litany, the Fatima prayer, and numerous prayers to saints and angels. Roman Catholic prayers are differentiated from other Christian prayers by the presence of the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.

Prayer to a 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 my judgment. Help me to become more Christlike, and so some day to be accepted into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

The Act of Contrition

The Angelus Prayer

The Angelus is one of the very well-known Roman Catholic prayers and actually refers to a church tower bell. The Angelus was a bell which was rung from the tower of the local churches or monasteries of small towns and cities of the 13th and 14th centuries. Inscriptions found on the bells that remain today indicate that the bells may have been rung in observance of the Mother Mary, and in certain parts of Germany, for Christ the King. Some bells have the inscription Ave Maria, and also, O Rex Gloriae Veni cum Pace, giving rise to the reference of Angelus bells as "Peace bells" found also in the Netherlands and France. Bells found in England bear homage to the angels Gabriel and Michael.

The Angelus may be recited by one voice followed by a chorus of voices, as was done during the ringing of the balles, but is shown below as recitable by one person. It incorporates the Hail Mary prayer.

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.

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord."
"Be it unto me according to thy Word."

Hail Mary, full of grace...(repeat the prayer)

And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace...

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

Let us pray: We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our
hearts, that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus
Christ by the message of an angel, so by His Cross and Passion we
may be brought unto the glory of His Resurrection; through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Litany: Most Inspiring of all Roman Catholic Prayers

The Litany is one of the most moving and uplifting of all Roman Catholic prayers. The text of the litany follows below. It is usually done by recitation, with a leading speaker followed by a chorus. The speaker is represented by V; the chorus who repeats his/her phrase is represented by R.

V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

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