Catholic Prayers & Devotions

Holy Hours (Eucharistic Adoration)

Holy hours are the Roman Catholic devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic Adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The bishops have created a variety of holy hours that focus our prayer to Jesus Christ on peace, life, vocations, and other topics that are at the heart of the life of the Church and the world.

List of Holy Hours

1. Holy Hour for Healing
2. Holy Hour for Divine Mercy Sunday
3. Holy Hour for Healing and Reparation
4. Holy Hour for Life | en español
5. Holy Hour for Life and Liberty
6. Holy Hour for Life: Extended Silent Prayer
7. Holy Hour for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty | en español
8. Holy Hour for Peace | en español
9. Holy Hour for Vocations
10. Holy Hour for Vocations, with priest celebrant
11. Holy Hour for Vocations, without priest celebrant
12. Holy Hour in Honor of St. Paul | en español
13. Q&A on Perpetual Exposition

Resources for Meditating on Scripture

1. Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art and Practice of Lectio Divina
2. Lectio Divina for Lent
3. Lectio Divina on the Meaning of a Call
4. Sharing the Word of God at Home
5. The Ancient Practice of Lectio Divina

1. Litany for Liberty
   The Litany for Liberty reminds us to live out our faith in the freedom we have as children of God.
2. Litany for Life
   This litany is based on 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a that reminds us of the power of God’s love throughout the struggles of this life.
3. Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life
   In the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Life, we ask Mary to pray for us as we journey through the joys and sorrows of life.
4. Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
   In the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, we proclaim the many names by which Jesus has been known to the faithful throughout history.
5. Litany of the Most Precious Blood
   Litany of the Most Precious Blood focuses on the real presence of Jesus Christ in the precious Blood. It can be prayed on the Feast of Corpus Christi or any Eucharistic feast.
6. Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
   The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a deep reflection on the compassion, wisdom, justice, and strength of the Heart of Jesus.

Familiar Catholic Prayers

Essential Prayers

1. Sign of the Cross
2. Our Father
3. Glory Be/Doxology
4. Hail Mary
5. Angel of God/Prayer to One’s Guardian Angel
6. Nicene Creed
7. Apostles’ Creed

Other Basic Prayers

1. Act of Contrition
2. Acts of Faith, Hope and Love
3. Angelus
4. Anima Christi
5. Divine Praises
6. Hail, Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)
7. Memorare
8. Morning Offering
9. O Sacrum Convivium
10. Tantum Ergo

1. Blessing of an Advent Wreath
2. Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
3. Blessing of a Christmas Tree
4. Blessing of a Home/Household on Epiphany
5. Divine Mercy Chaplet
6. Memorial Day
7. New Year’s
8. O Antiphons
9. Our Lady of Guadalupe
10. Prayer from a Canticle by St. John of the Cross
11. Prayer Service for National Day of Prayer
12. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
13. St. Juan Diego
14. Thanksgiving Day
15. World Youth Day Prayer for the United States

Prayers and Blessings for Family Members

1. Blessing of Grandparents
2. Prayer for Families

Blessings for the Household

1. Prayer for Safety
2. Prayers for Times of Trouble

Prayers during Sickness or Infirmity

1. Blessing of the Sick
2. Prayers for the Health and Dignity of the Sick (Includes prayers, litanies, and intercessions)

Blessings and Prayers Before and After Birth or Adoption

1. A Prayer for Life
2. Parents’ Thanksgiving
3. Prayer for Those Hoping to Conceive or Adopt
4. Prayer on Bringing a Child into the Home
5. Pro-Life Prayers (Includes links to various prayers and devotional practices)
6. Thanksgiving for a Newborn or Newly Adopted Young Child

Blessings during Childhood

1. Blessing on a Child’s Birthday
2. Blessing on a Child’s Name Day
3. Daily Blessing of a Child

Prayers Related to Marriage

1. Prayer for a Married Couple
2. Prayer of a Couple on the Anniversary of Marriage

Prayers for Death and Grieving

1. Blessing of Parents after a Miscarriage or Stillbirth
2. Prayers at the Death of a Baptized Child
3. Prayers for Death and Dying
4. Prayers for Mourners

1. Litany of the Way, Prayer for the Journey
2. Prayer Card for Vocations
3. Prayer for Charity in Truth
4. Prayer for Priests
5. Prayer for Students
6. Prayer for Teachers
7. Prayer for Work
8. Prayer in Defense of Marriage
9. Prayer in Time of Financial Difficulties
10. Prayer in Times of Suffering and Need
11. Prayer Service to be Disciples on Mission
12. Prayer to be Disciples and Missionaries
13. Prayer to Discern a Vocation
14. Prayer to Go and Make Disciples
15. Prayer When Gathering to Meet or Study
16. Prayers for Vocations
17. Prayers in Times of Seeking the Will of God

1. A Prayer for the People of Syria
2. A Collection of Prayers for Migrants
3. Blessing of a Victim of Crime or Oppression
4. Blessing of an Organization Concerned with Public Need
5. Care for God’s Creation
6. Covid-19: A Prayer of Solidarity
7. Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
8. Hear Us, O God | Escúchanos, oh Dios
9. Help Us Build Communities in God’s Vision of Justice
10. Intercessions for the Marginalized
11. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
12. Novena for Faithful Citizenship
13. Pope Francis’ Prayer at the Way of the Cross
14. Pope Francis’ Prayer for Mercy
15. Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
16. Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace and Protection from Violence and from Terrorism
17. Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Immaculate Conception
18. Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Joy of the Gospel
19. Pope Francis’ Prayer for Those Who Have Died After Leaving Their Homelands in Search of a Better Life
20. Pope Francis’ Prayer for Workers
21. Prayer After an Election
22. Prayer Before an Election
23. Prayer Cards for the Protection of Religious Liberty
24. Prayer During Difficult Economic Times
25. Prayer for a Victim of Accident or Violence
26. Prayer for Basic Rights
27. Prayer for Civic Leaders
28. Prayer for Community
29. Prayer of the Faithful for the Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities
30. Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse
31. Prayer for Justice
32. Prayer for Life and Dignity 
33. Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
34. Prayer for the New Evangelization
35. Prayers for Peace
36. Prayer for Peace in Iraq
37. Prayer for Peace of Pope Francis
38. Prayer for the Poor
39. Prayer for Protection of Conscience Rights in Health Care
40. Prayer for Solidarity
41. Prayer for Those in Poverty
42. Prayer for Troops
43. Prayer for Workers
44. Prayer for Youth
45. Prayers on the Care of Creation
46. Prayer to Become Stewards of God’s Creation
47. Prayer to Care for Our Common Home
48. Prayer to Confront Global Poverty
49. Prayer to End Trafficking
50. Prayer to End the Use of the Death Penalty
51. Prayer to Live the Gospel, Be Disciples
52. Prayer to Overcome Indifference
53. Prayer Service to Put Two Feet of Love in Action
54. Praying Like a Faithful Citizen
55. Share the Journey: Prayer Service in Solidarity with Dreamers and Migrants
56. Show Us Your Face: Prayer based on Rejoice and Be Glad (Gaudete et Exsultate)