Popular Catholic Prayers

Latin Rite (Western Catholic) Prayers

The prayers in this section are traditionally learned by Catholics in the West; check them out in both English and Latin.

Our Father (Pater Noster)

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.

Pater Noster
qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum
da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos
dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in
tentationem:
sed libera nos a malo.
Amen.

Hail Mary (Ave Maria)

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.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris
tui, Iesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis
nostrae.
Amen.

Glory Be

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.

Gloria Patri
et Filii
et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio
et nunc et semper
et in saecula saeculorum.
Amen.

Salve Regina

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

Salve Regina,
Mater misericordiae.
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra,
salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii
Hevae.
Ad te Suspiramus,
gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
illos tuos
misericordes oculos
ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum
ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium
ostende.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis
Virgo Maria.

Memorare

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin
Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy
protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thine intercession,
was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my
mother;
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand, sinful
and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word
Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and
answer me.
Amen.

Memorare,
O piissima Virgo Maria,
non esse auditum a saeculo,
quemquam ad tua currentem
praesidia,
tua implorantem auxilia,
tua petentem suffragia,
esse derelictum.

Ego tali animatus confidentia,
ad te,
Virgo Virginum, Mater,
curro,
ad te venio,
coram te gemens peccator
assisto.
Noli, Mater Verbi,
verba mea despicere;
sed audi propitia et exaudi.
Amen.

Act of Contrition

O, my God,
I am heartily sorry
for having offended you.
I detest all my sins
because of your just
punishment,
but most of all
because they offend you,
my God, who are all-good
and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve,
with the help of Your grace,
to sin no more
and to avoid the near
occasions of sin.
Amen.

Alternative Translation

O, my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins
because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell.
But most of all,
because I have offended Thee
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.

Prayer to Guardian Angel

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.

Angele Dei,
qui custos es mei,
me, tibi commissum pietate
superna,
illumina, custodi,
rege et guberna.
Amen.

Grace Before/After Meals

Before

Bless us O Lord,
and these Thy gifts
which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

After

We give Thee thanks
for all Thy benefits,
O Almighty God,
Who livest and reignest
forever.
And may the souls of the
faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.

Benedic Domine,
nos et haec tua dona
quae de tua largitate
sumus sumpturi
per Christum Dominum
Nostrum.
Amen.

Agimus tibi gratias,
omnipotens Deus,
pro universis beneficiis tuis,
qui vivis et regnas in saecula
saeculorum.
Fidelium animae,
per misericordiam Dei,
requiescant in pace.
Amen.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our defense 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 about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio,
contra nequitiamet
et insidias diaboli esto
praesidium.
Imperet illi Deus, supplices
deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militia
coelestis,
Satanam aliosque spiritus
malignos,
qui ad perditionem animarum
pervagantur in mundo, divina
virtute,
in infernum detrude.
Amen.

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that Thy Divine Son became Man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and Life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Act of Love (Charity)

O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, have mercy.	Lord have mercy
Christ, have mercy.	Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.	Lord, have mercy
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 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.
Mother of the Church,	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.	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	pray for us.
Original Sin,	pray for us
Queen assumed into Heaven,	pray for us
Queen of the holy Rosary,	pray for us
Queen of families,	pray for us
Queen of peace,	pray for us

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,	Spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,	Graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,	Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,	That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray — Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen