Prayers and Practices of the Catholic Church

Important Things Every Catholic Should Know

The Ten Commandments

1.  I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.

2.  You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

3.  Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.

4.  Honor your mother and your father.

5.  You shall not kill.

6.  You shall not commit adultery.

7.  You shall not steal.

8.  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9.  You shall not covet your neighbor's spouse.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

The Seven Laws of the Catholic Church

1.  To worship God by participating in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. To avoid those activities (like unnecessary work) that would hinder worship, joy, and relaxation.

2.  To lead a sacramental life. To receive Holy Communion frequently and the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.

3.  To study Catholic teachings in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, to be confirmed, and then to study and advance the cause of Christ.

4.  To observe the marriage laws of the Church. To give religious training, by word and example, to one's children.

5.  To strengthen and support the Church - one's own parish community and parish priests, the worldwide church, and the pope.

6.  To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on appointed days.

7.  To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church.

Days of Fast (Adults 18 to 59)

*  Two small meals and one regular meal

*  No food eaten between meals

Ash Wednesday                                        Good Friday

Days of Abstinence (all those over 14)

* No meat eaten on these days.

Ash Wednesday                    All Fridays of Lent

Holy Days of Obligation in the United States

Each Sunday Catholics are required to attend Mass.  In addition, the Catholic Church sets aside certain days each year for special observances. On these days, Catholics are also required to attend Mass. These days are:

January 1 : Solemnity of Mary

Ascension: Fortieth Day after Easter

Assumption: August 15

All Saints Day:  November 1

Immaculate Conception: December 8

Christmas: December 25

The Seven Sacraments

Baptism                Reconciliation                    Marriage

Confirmation        Anointing of the Sick          Holy Orders

Eucharist

Corporal Works of Mercy                      Spiritual Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry                                                   Warn the sinner

Give drink to the thirsty                                      Counsel the doubtful

Clothe the naked                                                  Instruct the ignorant

Visit the sick                                                       Comfort the sorrowing

Shelter the homeless                                            Bear wrongs patiently

Visit the imprisoned                                             Forgive all injuries

Bury the dead                                                      Pray for the living and the dead

The Theological Virtues

Faith                                      Hope                                             Charity

The Cardinal Virtues

Prudence                    Temperance                    Justice                    Fortitude

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

wisdom, understanding, right judgment (counsel), courage (fortitude), knowledge, reverence (piety), wonder and awe (fear of the Lord).

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

charity                kindness                 faithfulness      joy

goodness              modesty                  peace               gentleness

generosity           self-control             chastity           patience

Mysteries of the Rosary

Joyful Mysteries  (Monday)

The Annunciation

The Visitation

The Birth of Jesus

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday and Friday)

The Agony in the Garden

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Crowning with Thorns

The Carrying of the Cross

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)

The Baptism of Our Lord

The Wedding Feast at Cana

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

The Last Supper When Jesus Gave Us the Eucharist

The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday)

The Resurrection

The Ascension

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

The Assumption of Mary

The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Way of the Cross

1.  Jesus is condemned to death.

2.  Jesus accepts His cross.

3.  Jesus falls the first time.

4.  Jesus meets His mother.

5.  Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross.

6.  Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

7.  Jesus falls the second time.

8.  Jesus meets and speaks to the women of Jerusalem.

9.  Jesus falls the third time.

10. Jesus is stripped of His garments.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.

12. Jesus dies on the cross.

13. Jesus is taken down from the cross.

14. Jesus is placed in the tomb.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Basic 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 are 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 to the Father

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.

The 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 members of the Apostleship of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our holy Father this month. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

We believe in God, the Father Almighty,

  Creator of heaven and earth.

    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 to the dead.

On the third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven,

We 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.

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 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.

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

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 thee that meditating upon the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Memorare

Remember O most gracious virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O virgin of virgins my Mother. To you do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, do not reject my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer for Those Who Have Died

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Prayer the the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.