In every Catholic’s arsenal of tools, one of the most important is a good prayer book with a collection of standard Catholic prayers. Ideally, the book should look well-used and worn out from memorization.
I would be lying if I said I had all of my prayers memorized from childhood on. And I went to 12 years of Catholic schools.
But thankfully, I have do have many prayer books to help me along the way when I fall short of reciting a prayer perfectly. I also have a mother who taught RCIA, so believe me when I say we have a LOT of religious books.
Children taught these prayers from a young age have a greater chance of retaining them throughout their lives. And if there’s one thing we all know, they will need a lot of prayer to get them through life. Especially in these difficult times.
These prayers are the most common Catholic prayers, but there are a multitude of others than can be learned also. If you’re looking for a solid foundation, these 18 traditional Catholic prayers are a good place to start.
Catholic schools, homeschoolers, CCD, Sunday school and moms and dads wanting to pass on their Catholic faith will all benefit from memorizing these prayers, but most of them are also recited at mass.
My family has always attended mass together, so these prayers have been taught for generations in our family. I knew I wanted my children to also memorize them so we would pray them together and they would follow along at mass. Over time, they each learned them and most we can each recite without looking.
The Rosary is also something we recited together as a family. If you’re looking for some helpful hints about teaching your children the rosary, check out Teaching Children the Rosary Without Losing Your Mind. For extra help, try the Children’s Visual Rosary Guide.
You can print this collection of prayers with our Boys Blue Prayer Book for Catholic Children or Girls Pink Prayer Book for Catholic Children. These can be printed and made into a booklet, flip chart, flash cards or printed on a full page each.
Want the prayer book for free? Subscribe to our newsletter and receive a neutral colored prayer booklet for no cost.
Or purchased a Blue Prayer Bookletor Pink Prayer Booklet from our store.
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 art thou amongst 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
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.
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord!
and these Thy gifts,
which we are about to receive from Thy bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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.
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.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, 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 into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I 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.
St. Michael Prayer
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection 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.
Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
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;
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.
Amen.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malignant enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That with Thy Saints I may praise Thee
Forever and ever.
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 toward us,
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary!
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that
anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy
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.
Guardian Angel Prayer
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,
Rule and guide.
Amen.
Act of Contrition
Oh my God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
And failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy.
Amen.
Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe
that you are one God in three divine Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that your 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 you have revealed them
who are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die.
Amen.
Act of Hope
O Lord God,
I hope by your grace for the pardon
of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it
who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind,
and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die.
Amen.
Act of Love
O Lord God,
I love you above all things
and I love my neighbor for your sake
because you are the highest,
infinite and perfect good,
worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die.
Amen.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus,
forgive us our sins,
save us from the
fires of hell;
lead all souls to heaven especially those who are in most need of
Your mercy.
Amen.
For more ways to teach your children the sacraments of the Catholic Church, check out our Catholic Kids Collection.
Add comment