Catholic prayers in everyday life, for holidays, for health and for the dead

Every person believes in a higher power, so most of the inhabitants of our planet consider themselves to be one or another religious denomination. In our country, the most widespread belief is Christianity. About eighty percent of Russians adhere to it. However, it is worth considering that the religion itself is not united. It is divided into several movements, each of which is represented in Russia. The most numerous confessions are Orthodoxy and Catholicism. As is known, there are no serious contradictions between these two movements today, but there are still certain differences. In many ways they relate to Catholic prayers. This question is very interesting not only to Catholics, but also to Orthodox Christians. They often try to find out if they can pray with their brothers in faith and what are the basic Catholic prayers that believers use every day. From our article you will receive accessible information on this topic.

Schism between Christians

In order to begin a conversation about Catholic prayers, it is necessary to understand what exactly happened between believers, dividing them into two often opposing camps. Despite the fact that Catholics and Orthodox Christians wear crosses around their necks, pray to Jesus and are baptized, these two movements separated in the middle of the eleventh century.

The schism began with disagreements between the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople. Their conflict lasted for many years, but it was by the eleventh century that it reached its climax. After an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation, the Pope ordered the patriarch to be excommunicated from the church and announced this publicly. In turn, the head of the spiritual community of Constantinople anathematized all papal legates.

This conflict affected all believers, dividing them into two large groups. Only in the second half of the twentieth century did Catholics and Orthodox Christians drop their mutual accusations and try to come to an agreement. They partially succeeded, but over many centuries the difference in the currents turned out to be so noticeable that they were no longer destined to unite together.

Today, the disagreements concern basic issues of Christianity, so we can say that since the eleventh century the conflict has only deepened and become more severe. Even Catholic prayers differ in many ways from daily Orthodox prayers. But we will return to this topic a little later.

Catholics and Orthodox: main differences

The contradictions between the two trends we have voiced require close attention, because otherwise it will be quite difficult to deal with this issue. The main contradictions between the two Christian movements can be summarized in seven points of the following list:

Virgin Mary or Mother of God? This issue can cause the most heated debate. The fact is that Catholics first of all extol the Virgin Mary. They believe that she was immaculately conceived and taken to heaven while she was still alive. But the Orthodox perceive her exclusively as the Mother of the Son of God and can tell the story of her life until her death.
Attitude towards marriage. All Catholic clergy accept celibacy. According to this vow, they do not have the right to carnal pleasures and, moreover, cannot afford to get married. This applies to all levels of the priesthood. In Orthodoxy, white clergy are required to marry and have children, but only priests from the black clergy can receive higher church ranks. These include monks who have taken a vow of celibacy.
Heaven, hell and purgatory. On this topic, the opinions of Catholics and Orthodox Christians also differ radically. The first believe that the soul can go to hell, heaven or purgatory, where it is cleansed of sins over a certain period of time. At the same time, those souls who are not too pure for heaven and not too burdened for hell end up in purgatory. Orthodox Christians believe only in hell and heaven, and these two places seem vague to them.
Baptism ceremony. Orthodox Christians must plunge headlong into the font, while Catholics are simply doused with handfuls of water.
Sign of the Cross. First of all, a Catholic can be distinguished from an Orthodox by the way he crosses himself. Catholics tend to do this with their fingers, starting from the left shoulder. Orthodox Christians make the sign of the cross with three fingers, from right to left.
Contraception. Each religious denomination has its own attitude to the issue of protection from unwanted pregnancy. Moreover, sometimes opinions can be diametrically opposed. For example, Catholics are against any means of contraception. But the Orthodox do not agree with them; they believe that contraception is acceptable in marriage. Both men and women can do this.
Head of the church. The Pope, according to the deep conviction of Catholics, is infallible and represents Jesus himself on earth. The head of the Orthodox Church is the patriarch, who only leads the believers and may well stumble.

As you can see, contradictions exist, but from the outside they do not seem insurmountable. But we did not include the main thing in this list - differences in prayers. Let's find out how Orthodox prayer differs from Catholic prayer.

The Lord's Prayer is a universal prayer

This is the only prayer in Christianity that can be used for all occasions. You can read it if you want to receive divine blessing in any matter, as a protective remedy against manifestations of evil spirits and other misfortunes, for healing from diseases.

There are many known cases where the prayer “Our Father” saved people who were in serious danger and even on the verge of death. Thus, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War named Alexander wrote from the front to his wife about what happened to him when he was surrounded in 1944: “I was lying in the house with a wounded leg, I heard the sound of footsteps and German speaking. I realized that I was going to die now. Ours were close, but it was simply ridiculous to count on them. I couldn't move - not only because I was wounded, but also because I was at a dead end.

There was nothing left to do but pray. I was preparing to die at the hands of the enemy. They saw me - I was scared, but did not stop reading the prayer. The German did not have any cartridges - he began to quickly talk about something with his people, but something went wrong. They suddenly rushed to run, throwing a grenade at my feet so that I could not reach it. When I read the last line of the prayer, I realized that the grenade had not exploded.”

The priests say that it is not even necessary to know the text of the prayer by heart, since Jesus gave it as an example for his disciples. It is enough to convey the meaning and pronounce the words with faith for help to come.

A few words about prayers

Religious scholars argue that believers of the two Christian denominations have differences not only in the words and form of the main prayers, but also in the very structure of the appeal to God. This question is basic and shows how far apart these currents have moved.

So, the Orthodox are commanded to communicate reverently to the Almighty. A believer is supposed to turn to God with all his soul and thought, he must be completely focused on his thoughts. Moreover, upon entering the temple, they must be cleansed and turned with an inner gaze into the heart. The prayer itself should be calm; even strong feelings and emotions cannot be expressed deliberately and demonstratively. Believers are strictly forbidden to present various images. To summarize all of the above, we can say that prayer, according to authoritative theologians, should be “mind-hearted.”

Catholics put emotions first when turning to God. They must go ahead of the mind, so a certain exaltation is allowed in the temple. It is permissible for believers to imagine various images that will stir up feelings and emotions. At the same time, it is not forbidden to express oneself in every possible way in front of other worshipers. This is considered a true manifestation of faith. That is, Catholics in church pour out everything that is in their hearts, and only then are their minds imbued with Divine grace.

In this section, one cannot fail to mention the stumbling block between Catholics and Orthodox Christians - the “Symbol of Faith” prayer. It is basic for all Christians, since its text lists the main tenets of the religion. Every believer must understand and adhere to them. However, in some words Catholicism and Orthodoxy differ, and they are considered almost the most important in all prayer.

Before every meal

On the twelve holidays and Easter, prayers before meals are replaced by reading (singing) the holiday troparion. Troparia can be found in a prayer book or calendar.

Our Father. Lord's Prayer

Audio:

0:28

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Translation: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Or you can read this prayer

Audio:

0:15

The eyes of all trust in You, Lord, and You give them food in due season, You open Your generous hand and fulfill every living thing with good will (lines from Ps. 144).

Translation: The eyes of all trust in You, O Lord, and You give them their food in due season; You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with Your good pleasure.

For the blessing of food and drink for the laity

Read immediately after one of the prayers above

Audio:

0:18

Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, bless our food and drink with the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, for He is blessed forever and ever. Amen. (And cross food and drink)

Translation: Lord Jesus Christ, our God, bless us with food and drink through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer after eating1

Audio:

0:20

We thank You, Christ our God, for You have filled us with Your earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as You came in the midst of Your disciples, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

Translation: We thank You, Christ our God, that You have filled us with Your earthly blessings. Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but just as You, the Savior, appeared among Your disciples, giving them peace, come to us and save us.

* * *

Catholics: list of basic prayers

Every denomination implies that a person should turn to God as often as possible. Moreover, each time he must do this with an open heart and sincerity. Of course, no one forbids speaking to the Almighty in your own words. But it is still better to read special prayers.

Catholic prayers are numerous and fall into several categories. They can be said in different life situations when the blessing and help of God is required. Typically they can be placed into three large groups:

Morning Catholic prayers.
Daily appeals to the Creator.
Catholic evening prayers.

Each group includes quite a few texts, so an ordinary believer cannot remember them all by heart. And it’s even more difficult for a modern person to turn to God so often, so one or two daily prayers are selected from an extensive list.

I would also like to highlight prayers for the Rosary and novena separately. We will talk about these types of communication with the Creator in the following sections of the article.

The Catholic version of the “Our Father” differs from the Orthodox one

In the Latin translation of the Bible (Vulgate), which was made from the Greek original by Blessed Jerome, the final words of the prayer were omitted: “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.”

They were also omitted from Roman Catholic worship. This was explained by the fact that the Pope was considered the vicar of St. Peter and, as it were, the deputy of God on Earth, and all divine power was formally transferred to him.

It is interesting that members of the medieval Order of the Templars (Knights Templar) read the “Our Father” according to the canons not of the Catholic, but of the Eastern Christian (Greek Orthodox) liturgy, that is, with the preservation of the final words. It turned out that they denied the claims of the pontiffs to the divine Kingdom, power and glory. This became one of the reasons for the persecution of the Templars by the Inquisition.

How does the morning begin?

If a believer is sensitive to his responsibilities towards God, then any day must begin with several prayers. First of all, Catholics offer praise for the coming day and turn to the Almighty with requests for daily matters.

The first prayer after waking up is the morning doxology. We present its text below.

Next, you can make a request to the Almighty.

After these two prayers, the believer should do all the usual morning activities and think over a plan of action for the coming day. Usually, after waking up, any person thinks about work, problems and everything that will surround him outside the threshold of the house. However, believers know that man himself is weak and only with God’s help can he cope with all his responsibilities. Therefore, Catholics say the following prayer before leaving the apartment:

Prayers said throughout the day

The day of Catholics, Orthodox Christians and other people is filled with bustle, but even in it we should not forget about the Almighty. After all, believers try to take every step they take with God and His blessing. Previously, Catholics could say up to ten different prayers during the day; this was considered worthy behavior for a Christian. However, today the Catholic Church does not make such demands on believers. Therefore, the average Catholic usually reads prayers before and after meals, as well as to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is very much revered in all Christian movements.

A Catholic's meal must be accompanied by certain words. They are pronounced silently, and it is permissible to read the text very quickly.

But turning to the Mother of God requires more careful preparation. The believer must retire, concentrate and completely abandon all vain thoughts.

Prayers for special occasions

Prayers at the funeral meal

If a priest is present at the funeral meal, then first the usual funeral litia is performed, after which the Our Father is sung... and the blessing of the meal follows.

If there is no priest among those present, then after three usual bows:

Audio:

6:27

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Translation: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (Thrice with bows.)

Translation: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Glory, even now. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Translation: Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy (Thrice).

Glory, even now. Amen.

And the funeral troparia: From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, the soul of Your servant (Your servant), O Savior, give rest, keeping you in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Translation: With the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, rest the soul of Your servant (Your servant), Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that is with You, Lover of mankind.

In Thy chamber, Lord, where all Thy saints rest, give rest also to the soul of Thy servant (Thy handmaid), for Thou art the only Lover of mankind.

Translation: In Thy resting place, O Lord, where all Thy saints find peace, give rest also to the soul of Thy servant, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.

Glory: You are God, Who descended into hell and loosed the bonds of the bound. Give rest to yourself and the soul of Your servant (Your servant).

Translation: Thou art our God, who descended into hell and put an end to the torment of the prisoners, rest thee and the soul of Thy servant.

And now: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray that his (her) soul may be saved.

Translation: O One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who bore God in her womb inexpressibly, intercede for the salvation of the soul of Thy servant.

Then this prayer is said three times with 15 bows: Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (Your deceased servant) name (bow). Elika in this life, as man has sinned, You, as the Lover of Mankind, have mercy (bow), and deliver eternal torment (bow), and make the Kingdom of Heaven a partaker (participant) (bow), and do good for our souls (bow).

After this, the Lord’s Father is sung or read as a pre-dinner prayer, followed by an invocation of God’s blessing on the meal according to the rite for the laity.

At the beginning of the funeral meal, before other foods, everyone is offered kutia. And before the last sweet dish, which is traditionally served with jelly with milk (on fast days with almond or poppy seed), the so-called pivomedie is brought - a sweet non-alcoholic drink. In conclusion, everyone stands up and, if the meal is served on the day of burial or commemoration: on the 9th, 20th, 40th days after death and on the first anniversary, they sing the stichera in the 6th voice :

Seeingly, I am voiceless, / and lifeless, / weep for me, brothers and friends, / relatives and friends: / yesterday was the day of my conversations with you, / and suddenly you will find a terrible hour of laughter on the flesh dear;/ but come, all you who love me,/ and kiss me with your last kiss, / there is no one like you / or conversation with others; / for I am going to the Judge, / where there is no partiality: / the servant and the ruler stand together, / the king and the In, rich and poor/ in equal dignity:/ each one will either become famous or be ashamed from his deeds./ But I ask and pray to everyone,/ continually pray for me to Christ God,/ so that I will not be brought down (descended) through my sin to a place of torment,/ but yes to repairs me, where the animal Light .

Translation: Seeing me lying silent and lifeless before you (lying silent and lifeless before you), cry (all) for me: brothers and friends, relatives and acquaintances: after all, yesterday I talked with you, and suddenly the terrible hour of death overtook me. But come, all you who love me, and kiss me with your last kiss: after all, I will no longer walk with you or talk with you in the future. For I go to the Judge, where there is no partiality: after all, the slave and the ruler stand there together, the king and the warrior, the rich and the poor in equal dignity: for each of his deeds will either become famous or be ashamed. But I ask everyone and pray to continually pray for me to Christ God, so that I will not be brought down (I was not brought down) for my sins to a place of torment, but may He place me where the light of life is.

If the commemoration is performed in cases other than those listed, the stichera, tone 8, :

I cry and weep,/ always think about death,/ and I see our beauty lying in the tombs/ created in the image of God,/ ugly, inglorious,/ without form./ Oh, a miracle! What is this sacrament about us? / How do we give in to corruption, / how do we embrace death? / Truly by the command of God, / as it is written, / Who gives to the one who has died (who has died) xia) peace.

Translation: I cry and weep when I imagine death and see our beauty, created in the image of God, lying in the tombs, ugly, inglorious, without form. Oh miracle! What is this mystery that has taken place over us? How were we given over to corruption? How did they combine with death? Truly, by the command of God, as it is written, He grants repose to the departed.

Then the priest: In the blessed dormition of the servant of God (servant of God), the name of the one who passed away is eternal memory.

Translation: In the blessed dormition, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to Thy departed servant (Thy deceased servant), and create for him (or her) eternal memory!)

In the absence of the priest, the eldest of the laity: To the servant of God (servant of God) who has passed away, eternal memory.

All: Eternal memory (three times).

They drink the funeral cup and eat the last dish. The meal ends with the usual thanksgiving.

Prayer for the blessing of Easter foods

Audio:

1:42

Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the great sorrow of the Cross and Your suffering, filled everyone with immeasurable joy through the three-day resurrection! We thank You, for You have now granted us, who have completed the fast, to achieve these holy days and the joy of Your bright resurrection to be partakers. We thank You, for through Your mercy and ineffable condescension towards our weaknesses, You comfort us and with a festive meal to strengthen and delight our weak flesh. Moreover, we pray to You, bless this Easter bread, thickened milk, eggs and other Easter foods, especially these, from them, in obedience to the Charter of the Church, in the past days of Lent Thy servants abstained, that they might give thanks to those who eat them in health, to strengthen their bodily strength , in joy and joy, and in all contentment, we will abound in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart we will glorify You, the Risen One, who nourishes and comforts us, together with You I and Your Beginning Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

This prayer can be read by the priest or the eldest of those present at the first festive meal instead of the usual blessing formula.

A different prayer for the meager Easter meal

Audio:

1:18

Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the great sorrow of the Cross and Thy suffering, filled with immeasurable joy through the three-day resurrection! We thank You, for You have granted us and You, who have completed the fast, to achieve these holy days and to be partakers of the joy of Your bright resurrection. We pray to You: bless and sanctify these breads, which Your servants, in their poverty, prepared instead of Easter food and brought before Your Holy Face. May they be a source of sweetness and consolation to those who eat them, and may the meagerness of the meal not darken the festive joy of Your people. May all sorrows and sorrows be dispelled by the light of the resurrection, and may all the rich and the poor, those in abundance, and those in poverty glorify Thee, the Risen One, and in sorrows give us joy, the One Who Gives, together with You and without Your first Father and the Holy Spirit, forever centuries. Amen.

Prayer for the blessing of the humble 3 meals on the holiday of the Nativity of Christ

(read at the first holiday meal instead of the usual blessing formula)

Audio:

2:01

Lord Jesus Christ our God, who was willing for our salvation to appear on earth in the flesh and be indescribably born of the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary! We thank Thee, for Thou hast granted us, having purified ourselves through the feat of fasting, to achieve the great holiday of Thy Nativity and in spiritual joy to sing praises to Thee with the angels, to praise Thee with the shepherds, and with the magicians worship you. We thank You, for through Your great mercy and immeasurable condescension towards our weaknesses, You now comfort us not only with abundant spiritual food, but also with a festive meal. Moreover, we pray to You, who opens Your generous hand, fills all living things with Your blessings, gives everyone food that corresponds to the times and the rules of the church, bless the holiday food for the faithful The things Thy have prepared for us, especially this, from which, in obedience to the Charter of Thy Church, the servants abstained in the past days of fasting Yours, may they be to those who eat them with thanksgiving for health, for strengthening bodily strength, for joy and joy. May all of us, who have every contentment, be abundant in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart glorify Thee, who nourishes and comforts us, and also Thy Beginningless Father and Great One. Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the blessing of fast food on the Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(read at the first holiday meal instead of the usual blessing formula)

Audio:

2:12

Oh, Our Most Holy Lady, Virgin Theotokos, and after Your departure from the earth did not leave Orthodox people, but always visited us with Your mercies, aggravating our joys, quenching our sorrows! We thank You, for even now You have given us the joy of achieving the feast of Your honorable Assumption, to be comforted by the triumph of the Church, to enjoy spiritual food - praises, to the glory of T howl sung. We believe, Lady, that for the sake of Your intercession we have been given bodily consolation—a festive meal. Pray, O Most Pure One, to Your Son and our God, the Giver of all blessings, that He may bless the holiday foods, especially this one, from them, obeying the Charter of the Holy Church, Orthodox people abstained during the past days of fasting, so that those who partake of them will be in good health with thanksgiving, to strengthen our bodily strength, for joy and joy, so that we all, all of our bodily contents, may abound in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart, glorify the One who nourishes and not through sin to ours, Your Divine Son, Christ our God, who has mercy on us, together with the Beginningless His Father and the Holy Spirit, and to You, our Mother of Grace, Representative, Helper and Comforter, together with the holy apostles, cry prayerfully and gratefully: Most Holy Theotokos, help us always, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

(If the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary happens on Wednesday or Friday, this prayer is read before the meal the next day).

Evening prayers

In the evening, a Catholic should analyze his day, thank God for his help in business and ask for forgiveness for his sins. It is believed that a believer should never go to bed without making peace with the Creator. After all, a person can die in a dream, which means that you can fall asleep only by repenting and calming your heart.

Many people are required to say the Catholic prayer for the dead before going to bed. It is short but very important. After all, in this way a person shows that he remembers all his relatives and is ready to meet them.

Some Important Prayers

Everything that we have listed above is, one might say, the daily ritual of every Catholic. However, in addition to this, believers from childhood learn by heart several prayers that can be used under any circumstances.

The Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary is known to every believer. Many people start their morning with her and end their day with her, because it is the Mother of God who is the main intercessor for any offended person.

The text “Ave Maria” can be found in any prayer book. In Russian it sounds like this:

However, most Catholics consider it correct to read “Ave, Maria” in Latin. Therefore, we could not help but present the prayer in this form in the article.

The Catholic prayer to the Guardian Angel is also considered very important for a believer. Its text is short and intended to be read in various difficult situations, when a person is afraid of something or cannot make a decision.

The third basic prayer for any Catholic is the Angel of the Lord prayer. It is often read with family in connection with joyful events. We present the text of the prayer “Angel of the Lord” in its entirety.

Sign of the Cross

By making the sign of the cross, we confess faith in the Holy Trinity and the mystery of human salvation through the death of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. In this case, the believer receives a partial indulgence.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord's Prayer

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Angelic greeting

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory to the Holy Trinity

In this ancient doxology we praise the one God in three persons: the Father who created us, the Son who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit who enlightens us.

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, and now, and always, and unto ages of ages. 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 of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, descended into hell, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven and he sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, and from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Universal Church, the communion of saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, eternal life. Amen.

Nicene-Constantinople Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten 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 whom all things were created. For the sake of us, people, and for the sake of our salvation, He came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man; crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and buried, rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and to His Kingdom there will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, to whom, together with the Father and the Son, befits worship and glory, who spoke through the prophets. And into one Holy Ecumenical and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Daily Prayers

Morning prayers

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rising from sleep, I resort to You, Master, God, my Savior. Thank You for allowing me to see the radiance of this day. Bless me and help me at all times and in all my undertakings. Illuminate the darkness of my soul with the light of Your grace and teach me to do Your will all the days of my life. Amen.

or:

Divine Heart of Jesus, in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, I offer You all my prayers, labors, joys and sufferings of today. Accept them for Your glory and for the salvation of our souls. Amen.

or:

A new day is beginning, and I want to do all things according to Your holy will. Lord God, help me spend this whole day in Your presence. I pray to You, Lord, that all my deeds today, all my joys and sorrows, will serve for Your glory. Amen.

or:

Lord, bless my family (parents, children), my benefactors, the country, and also me, who often goes astray, but strives to be faithful to You. Amen.

or:

Graciously accept, Lord, the morning prayer of Your Church and illuminate the depths of our spirit with Your love, deliver from the suggestions of the evil one those whom You have called to Your heavenly light. Amen.

or:

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. At every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will! Guide my thoughts and feelings in all my deeds and speeches! In all unforeseen incidents, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You! Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without upsetting or embarrassing anyone! Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and everything that is destined to happen! Control my will and teach me to pray, hope, believe, love, endure and forgive! Amen.

(prayer of the Optina elders)

OUR FATHER... HAPPY MARY... GLORY...

Prayer before meals

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The eyes of all trust in You, O Lord, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and fill all living things with blessing. Our Father…

Let's pray:

Bless us, Lord, and these Your gifts, which we will partake of through Your generosity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

or:

Bless us, Lord, with these gifts and those who prepared them, and teach us to share bread and joy with others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

or:

God, who loves life, who feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the fields, we thank You for all Your creations and for the food that we will eat. We ask You, give bread to those who do not have it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer after eating

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let all Your works glorify You, O Lord. And may Your saints bless You. Glory…

Let's pray:

For all Your good deeds and gifts that we have tasted, we thank You, Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Deign to reward, O Lord, all who do good to us in Your name with eternal life. Amen.

Evening prayers

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, this day is already ending, and before the rest of the night, I want to ascend with my soul to You. I began this day in Your name and in Your name I want to complete it. I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on my soul and body today.

This is where a daily examination of conscience needs to take place. You need to remember the whole past day and try to evaluate your actions. How did I spend this day? Have I performed all my duties conscientiously? Have you sinned in deed, word and thought against God and your neighbor? Did you miss an opportunity to do good? Have I patiently endured the trials sent to me? Were you completely obedient to the will of God? What bad inclinations am I most susceptible to lately? How can I get rid of those sins that I repeat every day? After such a test of conscience, I must ask God for forgiveness of sins and thank Him for the opportunity to do good on this day, as well as for His gracious help in good deeds.

OUR FATHER... HAPPY MARY... GLORY...

Let's pray:

Visit, Father, our home and remove from us all the wickedness of the evil spirit, may the holy angels come and keep us in peace, and may Your blessing always be with us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty eternal God, I thank You with all my heart for all the blessings and graces of today, for all the sorrows and joys, for achievements and failures. Accept everything for the sake of Your great glory. Accept all my actions, prayers, quiet sighs, gratefully endured sufferings that are pleasing to You. Accept my respectful attitude towards Your image in every person, my concern to always follow Your commandments. Accept my sleep, my vigil and every moment of the coming night. Amen.

I thank you, Mary, our Intercessor and Helper, you, heavenly angels, my guardian angel and all the saints in heaven, with all my heart for your care and help. Ask the Lord for a blessing for me and my loved ones for this night. Amen.

— Grant eternal peace to the departed, Lord. - And let eternal light shine on them. - May they rest in peace. - Amen.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Other evening prayers

Oh God, another day of my life has passed. Every moment I lived was a gift from You: whether I worked or rested, communicated with people or was alone with myself, was happy or sad - everything was Your gift. Thank You for everything that I have learned and experienced today. You alone know whether I was able to fulfill Your will. Forgive me for everything that I overlooked, that I forgot about, for everything that was not according to Your will. Have mercy on me, a sinner. Let me let a night's rest increase my strength so that I can live better tomorrow. Take care of all those who sleep and those who work this night. I entrust my entire future and that of my loved ones to Your merciful care, our God and Father. Amen.

Almighty eternal God, I thank You with all my heart for all the benefits and grace of this day; for all the sorrows and joys, for achievements and failures. Accept everything for the sake of Your great glory. Accept all my actions, prayers, quiet sighs, gratefully endured sufferings that are pleasing to You. Accept my respectful attitude towards Your image in every person, my concern to always follow Your commandments. Accept my sleep, my vigil and every moment of the coming night. I praise You, God, turning to You the way You desire: with a meager word of human speech. I know that You hear me and my prayer. Amen.

Our Father…

I thank you, Mary, our Mediator and Helper, you, the heavenly Angels, my Guardian Angel and all the saints in heaven, with all my heart for your care and help. Ask the Lord for a blessing for me and my loved ones for this night. Amen.

Under Your protection

We resort to Your protection, Most Holy Theotokos. Do not despise our prayers in our sorrows, but always deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Our Lady, our Defender, our Intercessor, reconcile us with Your Son, entrust us to Your Son, bring us all to Your Son. Amen.

Angel of the Lord

P. The angel of the Lord told Mary, B. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary... P. Behold, Servant of the Lord; B. Let it be done to me according to your word. Hail Mary... P. And the Word became Flesh, V. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary... P. Pray for us, Most Holy Theotokos. V. May we be rewarded with the fulfillment of Christ’s promises.

P. Let's pray. We ask You, Lord, fill our souls with Your grace, so that with its help we come to know the incarnation of Christ, Your Son, announced by the angel, and through His suffering and cross we achieve the glory of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or:

God, eternal Wisdom; The Most Pure Virgin, through an angelic greeting, received Your ineffable Word and became a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Help us, following Her example, to humbly follow Your will and make us Your holy abode. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven (Regina caeli)

During the period from Easter to the solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Sunday after Pentecost), instead of the prayer “Angel of the Lord,” the antiphon “Queen of Heaven” (Regina caeli) is pronounced:

Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Hallelujah! For He Whom You were worthy to carry in Your womb, Hallelujah! He rose from the dead according to His prediction. Hallelujah! Pray to God for us. Hallelujah! Rejoice and be merry, Virgin Mary, Hallelujah! For truly the Lord has risen. Hallelujah!

Let's pray.

God, You have given joy to the world through the resurrection of Your Son Christ Jesus our Lord. We ask you: help us achieve the joy of eternal life through the intercession of the Virgin Mary who gave birth to Him. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hail, Queen! (Salve, Regina)

Hail, Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, joy and hope, glory. We cry to You in exile, children of Eve, we sigh to You, groaning and weeping in this valley of tears. O our Intercessor! Direct your eyes of mercy upon us, and show Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, to us after this exile. Oh meekness, oh mercy, oh joy, Virgin Mary!

To the Guardian Angel

Holy Angel of God, guardian and patron of my soul! Always be with me, morning, evening, day and night, guide me on the path of God’s commandments and remove all temptations of evil from me. Amen.

Ten Commandments of God

I am the Lord your God, so that you may have no other gods besides Me.
Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
Remember the day of the Lord
Honor your father and mother
Dont kill
Don't commit adultery
Don't steal
Don't bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's property

Five Church Commandments

Celebrate Sunday as the Lord's Day and regularly participate in Sunday and holiday Liturgy
Regularly, or at least once a year, take part in the sacrament of Repentance (confession)
Regularly, or at least once a year (during Easter), take part in the sacrament of the Eucharist
On the days established by the Church, fast
Help the Church and your community

Seven Holy Sacraments

Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
Repentance
Anointing of the Sick
Priesthood
Marriage

Deadly sins

Pride
Greed
Envy
Anger
Debauchery
Intemperance
Laziness

Cardinal virtues

Prudence
Justice
Courage
Abstinence

Three Virtues of God

Faith
Hope
Love

Works of mercy for the body

Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Welcome a stranger into your home
Visit a prisoner
Visit a sick person
Bury the deceased

Works of mercy for the soul

Convert a sinner
Teach the unenlightened
Give advice to a doubter
Comfort the Grieving
Endure hardships patiently
Forgive offenses from the bottom of your heart
Pray for the living and the dead

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Wisdom
Intelligence
Advice
Fortress
Maintaining
Piety
Fear of the Lord

Basic good deeds

Prayer
Fast
Alms

Novena: theory and practice

When talking about Catholic prayers, one cannot help but mention the novena. This special spiritual practice raises many questions among newly converted Catholics who are just beginning to study the foundations of Christianity.

In short, a novena is a nine-day prayer recited for a specific purpose. This practice became widespread in the seventeenth century, and it originated in Spain and France.

Today there are several categories of such prayers, but the first were the novenas for the holiday. Initially, believers began to pray nine days before Christmas to glorify Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Each new day symbolized the month that God's Son spent in the womb of his Mother. Later, a similar tradition spread to other church holidays.

In addition to the category already mentioned, Catholics distinguish novenas-petitions, funerals and indulgences. Each has its own meaning and set of texts, and clergy always warn that this practice has nothing to do with magic spells that must definitely work.

The spiritual practice of reading prayers for nine days has a very deep meaning, because its implementation requires some preparation and work on oneself. All believers who are thinking about reading a novena are advised to answer the question about the need for this practice. Once you clearly understand why you need this prayer, you can set the day and hour for it to start. It is very important to read the text at the same time every day. The novena should not be abandoned without finishing. If you missed the appointed hour, it is better to start from the very beginning. Servants of the Catholic Church believe that novenas strengthen the connection with God, the church community and cleanse the soul.

Links directory

Glory to the Holy Trinity

Apostles' Creed

Nicene Creed

Let's pray! We ask You, Lord, fill us with Your grace, so that we, having known through the angelic greeting the incarnation of Christ, Your Son, through His suffering and death on the cross, may achieve the glory of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice! Hallelujah

For He Whom You were worthy to carry in Your womb,
Hallelujah
, He rose from the dead according to His prediction,
Hallelujah
Pray to God for us,
Hallelujah
Rejoice and be glad, Virgin Mary,
Hallelujah
For truly the Lord has risen,
Hallelujah
Let us pray! God, who has deigned to rejoice the world with the resurrection of Your Son Christ Jesus our Lord, grant us, we ask You, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary who gave birth to Him, to achieve the joys of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rising from sleep, I resort to You, Master God, my Savior. Thank You for bringing me to see the brightness of this day. Bless me and help me at all times and in all my affairs. Illuminate the darkness of my soul with the light of Your grace and teach me to do Your will all the days of my life. Amen.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me peace this night. How many sick and suffering people spent it without sleep, but You allowed me to rest peacefully during this time. I thank You, Lord, and I pray to You: help me, through my work today, to earn Your love.

A new day begins, and I want to do all my deeds according to Your most holy will. Lord God, help me to spend this whole day in Your presence, like a child playing in front of his father. I pray to You, Lord, that all my deeds today, all my joys and sorrows, will serve for Your glory.

Bless my family (my parents, my children), bless my benefactors, bless my country, and also me, who often goes astray, but strives to be faithful to You.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory. I believe.

Under Your protection

Holy Angel of God, guardian and patron of my soul! Stay with me today, guide me on the path of God’s commandments and remove all temptations of evil from me. To Your Fatherly providence, O God, I entrust the whole world and humbly ask You: send Your grace upon the holy Church, upon its supreme shepherd - the Pope of Rome, upon our bishop, upon our dear fatherland, upon my family (parents, children, relatives), and on my benefactors, on the sick, traveling, suffering and troubles, and on everyone who needs Your help. Have mercy especially on those who do not know You and do not obey Your will. Make us all, O God, Your faithful children.

And may the souls of those who have departed, through Thy mercy, rest in peace. Amen. God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Hymn to the Holy Spirit

Send Your Spirit, and they will be created. And the face of the earth will be renewed.

Let's pray! God, who teaches the faithful through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, give us, through the same Spirit, knowledge of the truth and eternal consolation in it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS DURING THE DAY

Prayer before meals

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bless us, O Lord, and Thy gifts, which through Thy bounties we will partake. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, bless us and these gifts (bless those who raised, brought and prepared them) and teach us to share bread and joy with others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Prayer after eating

For all Your good deeds and for the gifts that we have tasted, we thank You, Almighty God, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer before starting any good deed

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bless, Lord, the work I have begun and help me to successfully complete it with the assistance of Your grace.

I dedicate all my labors and efforts to you, so that they serve for the good and salvation of my neighbors. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, this day is already ending, and before the rest of the night, I want to ascend with my soul to You. I began this day in Your name. In Your name I want to complete it. I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on my soul and my body today. But was I truly grateful today? Did I have a good day? Perhaps today, as many times before, I should regret and repent of many sins. (Here see how you spent your day).

Alas, Lord, I again turned out to be Your weak and unfaithful son. My ingratitude hurts You. I'm sorry. Help me start living differently. I pray to You, Heavenly Father, do not deprive me of Your help this night. Grant me quiet rest, so that tomorrow with new strength I can diligently fulfill Your will. Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory. I believe. Angel of the Lord.

Grant eternal peace to the departed, O Lord, and let eternal light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without original sin, pray to God for us who come running to You!

Prayer before going to bed

Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your life-giving cross and save me this night from all evil. Into Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ. My God, I betray my spirit. Bless me and have mercy and grant me eternal life. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Jesus, Mary, Saint Joseph, I entrust to you my heart, my soul and my body. Amen.

Prayer of dedication of oneself and all humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O merciful Jesus; Redeemer of the human race, mercifully look upon us, who bow down to Thy throne with deep humility. We are Yours, and we want to be Yours. Desiring, however, to unite even more closely with You, each of us today voluntarily devotes himself to Your Sacred Heart.

Many have never known You, many have denied You, despising Your commandments. Have pity on both of them, O good Jesus, and draw everyone to Your Sacred Heart.

Be the King, Lord, not only of the faithful who never left You, but also of the prodigal sons who left You. Bring them quickly to their Father’s house, so that they do not perish from spiritual poverty and hunger. Be the King also of those who have been misled by false rumors or who have been drawn into schism by disagreement. Lead them back to the haven of truth and to unity in faith, so that there will soon be one flock and one Shepherd. Also everyone. Bring those who don’t yet know you into the family of believers.

Grant, Lord, to Your Church full flourishing and freedom, grant to all peoples peaceful prosperity, so that from all corners of the universe the following can be heard unanimously:

Glory to the Divine Heart, through which we have been given salvation, glory and honor to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Mary, calling upon Your protection, we consecrate and entrust ourselves, our families and our homeland to Your Immaculate Heart. Be our Mother, Intercessor and example of serving God. Inspire us to the feat of faithful service to You, Your Son and His Church in this historical and fateful time of the approaching Great Jubilee of 2000 and lead us into the third millennium worthy of the high title of Christians. You, who in a maternal way understand the difficulties and hopes of our life, especially in the struggle between good and evil, hear our call for help and shelter us in the arms of Your Motherly love, concerned about our mortal and eternal fate.

O Most Pure Mother of God, present before the throne of the All-Merciful and Almighty God our gratitude for the abundance of graces with which He bestows on Russia, our repentance for the sins of the people and our sacrifice, ask for blessings for the future, for the achievement of peace, harmony and mutual understanding. Through your intercession, may He bless the efforts to unite Christians in the name of the covenant of the Lord: “That I may all be one”; may He look mercifully upon His Church, granting Her complete freedom and the grace of many holy callings to the priesthood and monasticism; may he bless the state power in its concerns for the welfare of the people, their spiritual development and the observance of justice; may he take care of our families, so that they may be strong by God and indestructible; may he gift children and youth with spiritual, intellectual and physical development and protect them from sinful temptation; let those who are lost show the path of conversion; May the unbelievers be led to the knowledge of the truth; sinners - to repentance; may he have pity on the sick and the poor, the suffering and the burdened - on all who are in need.

O Most Holy Theotokos, Patroness of the Russian land, we resort to Your protection. Accept our dedication to You. Be with us on the paths of faith, hope and love. Through your intercession may there be a conversion of hearts and may goodness prevail. Pray for us, so that in fulfilling the will of the Almighty we will always be like Your example, serving him and our neighbor. We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bernard

Remember, O all-merciful Virgin Mary, that from time immemorial no one has heard of any of those who come running to You, asking for Your help, seeking Your intercession, being abandoned by You. Filled with such hope, I come to You, Virgin and Mother of the Most High, with humility and contrition for my sins. Do not despise my words, O Mother of the Eternal Word, and graciously heed my request. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Prayer of St. Ignatius

Prayers to overcome evil

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Who is like the Lord our God? You, holy Angels and Archangels, protect and protect us!

Kind, gentle Mother, You are forever our love and our hope! Mother of God, send us holy Angels so that they protect us and drive away the evil enemy from us.

Holy Mother, come to the aid of the poor, turn Your gaze to the faint-hearted, comfort the saddened, ask for the people, beg for the priests, intercede for the people who have dedicated themselves to serving God! May all who revere You feel Your help!

Prayer to Saint Archangel Michael

Another prayer to Saint Archangel Michael

Come to the aid of people! God created them immortal. He created them in His image and likeness and, at a high price, snatched them from the power of the devil. Together with the army of the holy Angels, give today a new battle, as You already did in your time against Lucifer, the leader of the rebels and their assistants, the rebel angels. They couldn't resist You. There was no longer room for them in heaven. The unfaithful angel was turned into an angel of darkness and cast down into the abyss with his helpers.

Today he roams the earth again to seduce us. This enemy, a killer from the first days, has risen again. He takes the form of an angel of light to take over the world, uproot the Name of God and His Anointed Jesus Christ, snatch away souls created for eternal bliss, kill them and cast them into destruction forever. The evil serpent pours out on blinded and defeated humanity, like a dirty stream, the poison of its malice, the spirit of lies, atheism and blasphemy, the spirit of uncleanness and all shameful sins. Cunning opponents bring enormous harm to the Church, the Bride of the Spotless Lamb. - Therefore, rise up, Holy Archangel Michael, invincible Leader, come to the aid of the people of God against the attacks of evil spirits and give us victory! Amen.

Prayer for the healing of the sick

Prayer during illness or difficult trials

Lord, bless everyone who helps me and does good. Bless everyone who is also suffering. Help them and me to get rid of troubles and sorrows, and while the current misfortune lasts, have consolation and joy in You, the Giver of life. Amen.

Prayer for a sick child

God, You send Your angels to help people. May the Guardian Angel, by Your mercy, protect this child from all evil. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for recovery

Prayer for prisoners

Prayer for those suffering disasters and misfortunes

Prayer for the Church

Prayer for the Bishop

Prayer for Christian Unity

So, we, Thy unworthy servants, curse You: for the sake of the same infinite mercy of Thy, for the sake of the mystery of redemption and the precious Blood shed by Jesus, Thy Divine Son, for the salvation of the whole world, for the sake of His immeasurable merits and the merits of His Church, and especially for the sake of the merits of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven - forever kindle in the hearts of all Your people the fire of Your divine love, so that with all their souls they care about their eternal salvation and the eternal salvation of their neighbors, and so that there will soon be one flock and one Shepherd on earth (John 10.16), yes Your divine mercy will be glorified in the highest forever.

Trusting in Your grace, which we ask for, we appeal to all the heavenly hosts, so that they too glorify You, saying: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Children's prayer for parents

Parents' prayer for children

Prayer for the Fatherland

Prayer before starting a journey

Prayers for the departed

Our Father. - From the gates of hell - Lord, deliver him (her, them)

soul
(s)
.
- May he rest in
peace.
Amen.
- Lord, hear my prayer. - And let my cry come to You. - The Lord is with you - And with your spirit.

God, Who has eternal mercy and forgiveness! We humbly pray to You for the soul of Your servant (Your servant) N

, whom
(whom) (now)
You have called from this world, so that You will not deliver her into the power of the enemy and may not forget her forever, but You will command Your holy angels to receive her and bring her into the heavenly abode, so that she who believes in You and trusts in You , she was not subjected to the torments of hell, but received eternal bliss.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.