Roman Catholic Prayers

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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.

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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

O my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins,
because of thy just punishment,
but most of all because they
offend 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.

There is another version of the Act of Contrition which would substitute "because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pain of Hell," in place of "because of Thy just punishment."

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.

The Angel of the Lord brought tidings unto Mary,
And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

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.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of the family, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.

V. Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord!
V. Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord!
V. Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.

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

V. Let us pray. Grant, we beg you, O Lord God, that we your
servants, may enjoy lasting health of mind and body,
and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever
Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the
joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Substitution: one might recite in place of the above:

V. Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech You, 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 (we),
by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His
Resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Substitution: this may be recited in place of the above:

Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten son, by his life,
death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of
eternal life, grant, we beseech you, 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.
R. Amen.

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