Prayer in the Family
Children can start learning to pray even before they can speak in coherent sentences simply by allowing them to see you praying and by inviting them to pray with you as best they can. As with any good habit, you will want to start reinforcing prayer as a regular part of life as early as possible. Once a child can communicate verbally, they can learn to pray on their own either out loud or silently.
The best way to begin educating your children about prayer is to pray in their presence. Look for opportunities to practice prayer in front of them, just as you would seek out instances to teach them about manners, good sportsmanship or humility. While praying in the morning or before bed is a common and valuable practice, God wants us to come to him with all things and at any time, so let children see you praying throughout the day for a variety of needs.
When praying, try to keep the details and words appropriate to your child’s age level, so younger children won’t be scared by serious situations.
Click on any item to select hidden text
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Agus as Gaeilge:
In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh.
Amen.
The Our Father - also known as 'The 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Agus as Gaeilge:
Ár nAthair atá ar neamh,
go naofar d’ainm
Go dtaga do ríocht
Go ndéantar do thoil
ar an talamh mar a dhéantar ar neamh.
ár n-arán laethúil tabhair dhúinn inniu
Agus maith dhúinn ár bhfiacha
Mar a mhaithimidne ár bhféichiúnaithe féin
Agus ná lig sinn i gcathú
ach saor sinn ó olc.
Amen.
The 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.
Agus as Gaeilge:
Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire, atá lán de ghrásta,
tá an Tiarna leat.
Is beannaithe thú idir mná
Agus is beannaithe toradh do bhroinne, Íosa.
A Naomh-Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé,
guigh orainn na peacaigh,
Anois agus ar uair ár mbáis.
Amen.
The 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.
Agus as Gaeilge:
Glóir don Athair agus don Mhac
agus don Spiorad Naomh.
Mar a bhí ar dtús, mar atá anois agus
mar a bheas go brách, le saol na saol.
Amen.
Prayer to your Guardian Angel
O 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
Morning Offering
O my God, you love me,
You’re with me night and day.
I want to love you always
In all I do and say.
I’ll try to please you, Father.
Bless me through the day.
Amen
Act of Sorrow
O my God, I thank you for loving me.
I am sorry for all my sins,
for not loving others and not loving you.
Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again.
Amen
Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord,
and these your gifts,
which we are about to receive
from your bounty.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Grace After Meals
We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits,
O Almighty God,
who livest and reignest
world without end.
Amen.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
The Ten Commandments
- I am the LORD your God. Do not worship false Gods.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
- You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
- You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again,
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty.
He will come again 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
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
And the Word was made flesh;
and dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary, etc.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray;
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts that we,
to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may, by His Passion and Cross,
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Rosary
The four main divisions (known as Mysteries) of the Rosary are as follows:
The Joyful Mysteries (said on Mondays & Saturdays)
* The Annunciation
* The Visitation
* The Birth of Our Lord
* The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple
* The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries (said on Tuesdays & Fridays)
* The Agony in the Garden
* The Scourging at the Pillar
* The Crowning with Thorns
* The Carrying of the Cross to Calvary
* The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord
The Glorious Mysteries (said on Wednesdays & Sundays)
* The Resurrection
* The Ascension into Heaven
* The Descent of the Holy Spirit
* The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven
* The Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven
The Mysteries of Light (said on Thursdays)
* The Baptism in the Jordan
* The Wedding at Cana
* The Proclamation of the Kingdom
* The Transfiguration
* The Institution of the Eucharist
The Rosary begins with the Opening Responsory – O God open my lips. Response – And my mouth shall declare your praise.
This is followed by the recitation of the Apostle’s Creed.
Next comes one ‘Our Father,’ three ‘Hail Marys’ and one ‘Glory Be to the Father.’
After this are followed the five decades which consist of one ‘Our Father,’ ten ‘Hail Marys’ and one ‘Glory Be to the Father’ in each decade.
Many Catholics pray the Rosary using a set of beads strung together to form a Rosary.
The Rosary concludes with the ‘Hail Holy Queen’.