Prayer is communion with God. Prayer can be public or personal, spoken or silent. It can even be sung; the Psalms are prayers we sing and have been a part of the Church’s communal prayer since the earliest days of the Church. Prayer is an invitation for God, who loves us and desires to be in relationship with us.

Jesus teaches us about the importance of prayer. It is mentioned in the Gospels seventeen times that Jesus took time apart to pray.  He prayed often, morning and night. He prayed during critical events in his life, and he prayed before ministering to people in need. Jesus is a model of prayer for us.

Prayer is essential to living a full, Catholic life, but it need not be complicated. The Mass, for example, is the central communal form of prayer for the Church. Below are some of the Church’s most traditional and foundational prayers, which are great options for getting started:

Grace before Meals

Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy goodness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Glory to the Father

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 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, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.

Hail Mary

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.

Act of Contrition

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

There are also contemporary ways to pray. Talking with God each day, no matter the form or words used, nourishes our relationship and helps it to grow.

1. Silent prayer or meditation helps us center our thoughts on God’s goodness and offers renewal in a noisy, hectic world.
2. Lectio Divina is a way of praying with the sacred Scriptures. Find a Scripture passage that speaks to you. Read it out loud and then reflect upon it silently for several minutes. Read it again. Notice any words or phrases that stick with you. Ask God what you are to learn from this passage. Listen.
3. Keep a prayer journal with all of your wants, needs, thoughts, and reflections related to your prayer life.