Prayers

These are the main prayers you'll meet quickly as you start attending Mass and learning Catholic life. Short intro, then the text itself.

The Our Father (Lord's Prayer)

Taught by Jesus himself. You'll hear it at every Mass, and it's the backbone of a lot of Catholic 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The Hail Mary

A central prayer in the Rosary and many devotions. You'll hear it a lot if you spend time around Catholic prayer groups.

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.

The Glory Be

A short prayer of praise to the Trinity. Used throughout the Rosary and many devotions.

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 Nicene Creed

The Church's summary of the faith. At Mass (especially Sundays), you may recite it after the homily.

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 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.

How to pray the Rosary (simple guide)

The Rosary is a structured prayer using beads. It combines repeated prayers with meditation on events in the life of Jesus and Mary (the mysteries).

  1. 1) Make the Sign of the Cross.
  2. 2) On the crucifix: (many people begin with a short opening prayer).
  3. 3) On the first bead: pray the Our Father.
  4. 4) On the next three beads: pray three Hail Marys.
  5. 5) Pray the Glory Be.
  6. 6) Announce the first mystery, then pray: Our Father.
  7. 7) On the ten beads: pray ten Hail Marys (a decade).
  8. 8) Pray the Glory Be.
  9. 9) Repeat for 5 decades (5 mysteries).
  10. 10) End with the Sign of the Cross.