Catholic Prayers for Children

In our home, we started praying with our children when they were very small. Before bed, we started with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory Be.

In a matter of months, the children knew all the prayers by heart, and were taking turns leading them. Rachel even surprised me by reciting the St Michael prayer one night, long before I knew she was even paying attention.

Take the time to say these prayers with your children. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach them our beautiful Catholic faith.

1. Our Father

Your children will hear this prayer at every Mass they attend.

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.

2. Hail Mary

This is the prayer that we began teaching my children first. I’m especially close to our Blessed Mother, and it warms my heart to hear my children reciting this prayer.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed are you among 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.

3. Glory Be/Doxology

Doxology is defined as a short hymn of praises to God. Around here, we call this prayer 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.

4. St. Michael Prayer

Ready for spiritual warfare? Arm yourself and your children with this beautiful prayer.

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

5. Guardian Angel Prayer

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,
Rule and guide.
Amen.

6. Table Blessing

No matter if you refer to this as saying grace or call it a table blessing, encourage your children to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. My friend and fellow CMO writer Kathryn even has her children say “God bless the cook!” at the end.

Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts,
Which we are about to receive, from thy bounty,
Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

7. Act of Contrition

Since Rachel will be making her First Reconciliation next fall, we will begin learning this prayer over the summer.

My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

8. Fatima Prayer

In our family, we pray this at the end of each decade of the Rosary.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins.

Save us from the fires of hell,

lead all souls to heaven

especially those

in most need of thy mercy. Amen.

9. Memorare

The actual author of this prayer is not known, but is attributed to St Bernard of Clairvaux of the 12th century.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help,
or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

10. St. Patrick’s Breastplate

As a family with an Irish background, St. Patrick is one of our favorites here. I’m teaching my children an excerpt from St. Patrick’s Breastplate.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Let’s hear about your family. Are there other favorite Catholic prayers that you’ve taught your own children? Be sure and share them in the comments.

It’s much easier to tell our children to say their prayers than to guide them through the process. Praying out loud is a bold expression of faith. Though many of us feel comfortable praying out loud in a group, it’s hard for others to muster the courage to verbalize prayer even to our own children.

Even when we are brave enough, we often let the opportunity to pray with our kids pass by in the rush of the day’s routine. Carving out time to pray with our children blazes a trail for them to cope with life the way God created us to – in conversation with Him.

Deuteronomy 11:20 tell us to “Teach these things to your children. Talk about them when you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the road. Make them the last thing you talk about before you go to bed and the first thing you talk about the next morning.” When it seems daunting to break down faith to our children, let us pray to the Lord for strength to pass down His truth in prayer with the little lives He’s entrusted us with on this earth. 

1. A Prayer for When I am Thankful

God, thank You for this day! Thank You for the birds and the animals, the flowers and the trees, the lakes and the streams, and the sun that rises and sets over them each day. Thank You for creating everything we see! Thank You for the life we live, and for making each person different. Thank You for Jesus, who died for us so that we can go to heaven one day just for believing in Him. What an amazing God You are! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

2. A Prayer for When I am Sad

God, I am sad. But You are good, and You are there. You listen to me when I cry. I can cry to You and tell You what is wrong. Even when I don’t know what to say, I can just pray, “Help me, God, I’m so sad.” You promise that whatever I am going through, You will be there. Thank You for always loving me, even when I am really sad. Thank You for this day, even though it’s not been the best day. Show me how to cheer up. Help me to be happy. Help me to see and remember all of the good things You have blessed my life with, and dry my tears. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

3. A Prayer for My Friend

God, Thank You for my friend. You tell us that it is not good to be alone, God, and bless us with family and friends all around us. Thank You for giving us people to talk to and laugh with. I pray for my friend today, that they have a good day and a blessed life. They are a blessing to me, God, when I need them the most. Just like Jesus is to me. Help me to be kind like Jesus. To be a good friend to others and spread His love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

4. A Prayer for Help

God, Sometimes I don’t feel like talking about what’s wrong. I just want to be mad or sad or frustrated. I would rather sit by myself. Sometimes, things feel too big for me to figure out. Sometimes, life seems really unfair. I need Your help, God. You are the only One who sees everything and knows everything. You are the only One who knows everything about me. Can You help me to trust You, today? Please teach me how to take what I feel and give it to You to sort out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

5. A Prayer for My Sister

God, Thank You for my sister. You tell us that no family is put together by accident. That the people in our lives are placed there by You. Thank You for making us sisters. Bless us to be friends like only sisters can be, all the days of our lives. Help me to be a good example for her, and to be there for her when she needs my support. Thank You for my sister, God. Bless her today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

6. A Prayer for My Brother

God, Thank You for my brother. The people in our lives are placed there by You. You love all of us like sons and daughters, more than we can understand! Thank You for my brother. He is a very special person in my life. Someone who is fun to be around, but also understands me. Our friendship is very special, and I look up to him very much. Please bless him, Lord. Bless my brother, and keep him safe, today and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

7. A Prayer for My Grandparents

God, Thank You for my grandparents. I love spending time them. They always make me feel special and are excited to see me. Please bless them to be healthy and strong. Protect them from harm and keep them happy and safe until I see them again. When I miss them, help me to remember all of the fun times we have when we are together. Thank You, God, for my grandparents. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

8. A Prayer for My School

God, please bless my school. Thank You for all of the teachers that work so hard to help us learn. Thank You for recess and lunchtime, when we get to play with our friends. Thank You for providing a place where we can learn more about the world You created for us to live in, and how it works. Please keep my school safe. Protect all of the grown ups and kids that come to school everyday. Protect us from harm, and help us to be kind to each other. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

9. A Prayer for My Mom

God, Thank You for my Mom. She helps me grow into the person You made me to be. Even though I don’t always listen, I love her everyday… all of the time. Just like You love us. She loves me even when I have good days, and when I’m bad. Help me to be obedient, even when she tells me to do something I don’t want to do. Thank You for my mom. Bless her to know how much I love her. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

10. A Prayer for My Dad

God, Thank You for my Dad. He guides me in life by his example and his helping hand. He teaches me how to do things and helps me with my homework. He works hard at his job for our family, and makes me laugh. Thank You so much for my dad. Please bless him, God and let him know how much I love him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO: AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.”

– PROVERBS 22:6

Instilling the Faith and Love of Christ is vital to raising your little one to know the Lord at an early age.  The Bible tells us to have childlike faith.  What better way to have the faith of a child, then the faith of a child? Start ’em off young. Start ’em right! Here are 10 traditional prayers to teach your children:

PRAYERS

1. The Sign of the Cross:  In the name of the Father, and Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. 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.
3. Hail Mary or the Angelic Salutation:  Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among 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.
4. 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.
5. To The Guardian Angel:  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.
6. To St. Michael the Archangel:  St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
7. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep:  Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.
8. May the Lord Bless You and Keep You:  May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine His face upon you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord turn His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
9. Prayer Before Meals:  Bless us Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
10. Prayer After Meals:  For these and all His mercies, God’s holy name be praised, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Raising our children in the Catholic faith entails involving them in the faith from the very early months of their lives.

One of the best ways to get our children involved in the faith so that it becomes a part and parcel of their lives is to encourage them to learn the common Catholic prayers.

Teaching your children to pray need not be a daunting task.  Children tend to learn and absorb new information very rapidly, especially during their early years’ formation.

These common Catholic prayers below are short and easy to memorise when repeated daily, and learning them will be just as easy as learning nursery rhymes.

The 10 Essential Catholic Prayers Every Under-10 Child Should Know Include:

1. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

This basic prayer can be taught from when your child starts speaking.  The prayer is said with reverence before and after other prayers.

Let your child watch initially, as you say the prayer slowly, going through the movements deliberately and with intent.  Your child will naturally start to mimic you.

Be sure to correct common mistakes that young children generally make with this prayer, such as using the left hand instead of the right or touching the right shoulder first instead of the left.

2. 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.”

Another common Catholic prayer your child should learn.  Use the Call and Response technique when teaching your child this prayer.  In this technique, you repeat one line, your child repeats the next line and so on.

3. THE JESUS PRAYER

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

A simple, short prayer that is easy to learn and easy to memorise.

4. GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER

Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen

Teach your child to get acquainted with their Guardian Angels and to learn to call their aid when needed.  Children have an affinity with angels and will have no problem developing a devotion to their Guardian Angel.

5. 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

Children naturally gravitate towards Mary.  Learning the Hail Mary is a great introduction to learning the Rosary later on.  It also helps build a good foundation for Marian devotions.

A helpful way to teach this prayer is via Call and Response technique, where you repeat the first line, and your child repeats the next line and so on.  Then you can swap lines.  With daily repetition of this prayer, your child will be able to recite the entire prayer in no time at all.

6. GRACE BEFORE & AFTER MEALS

BEFORE:  Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

AFTER: 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.

In a materialistic and consumerist world, instilling a sense of gratitude in young children is important more than ever as it teaches them not to take things for granted and also serves as a reminder that everything we receive is a blessing from God.

7. OUR FATHER

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.

This prayer should be repeated with your child daily, either in the morning or the evening.  Make sure that they learn it properly and correct the common mistakes such as “Howard be thy name….” and so on.

8. ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartfully sorry for having offended thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment, but most of all because I have offended Thee my God, Who is all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen

This prayer is essential for the sacrament of confession and children should be encouraged to say it every night before they go to sleep.

9. 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 by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell.  The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

This is another common Catholic prayer that your child should learn by age 10.  It is a much longer prayer than the above prayers, so once again, you can use the Call and Response technique as described in the Hail Mary prayer above to teach your child this prayer.

10. THE ROSARY

By the time your child has reached 10 years old, he/she should be proficient in the above prayers as well as the rosary.  Many prayers of the Rosary such as the Glory Be and Hail Mary would have already been learnt by now.

A part of your nightly bedtime routine should be a nighttime prayer. You can use a traditional blessing, or recite any of these Catholic bedtime prayers for children. This will help to give your thanks to the Lord and show your appreciation for the blessings in your life.

Prayers #1

Heavenly Father,
Bless (name) and keep him (her) in Your love.
Grant him (her) a good rest tonight,
And send Your angels to protect him (her).
In the Name of the Father,
And the + Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Prayers #2

Dear God, thank you for today.
There were good parts I’d like to remember and bad parts I’d rather forget. Forgive me for the things I did wrong and help me to be better tomorrow. Thank you for all the good things and thank you for being with me in it all.
Amen.

Prayers #3

Thank you, God, for a lovely day,
for sun and rain, for work and play.
For all my family and friends,
and for you love, which never ends.
Amen

Prayers #4

O my God, I thank Thee for all the graces that I have received from Thee during this day. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed and promise with Thy help not to sin again. Bless my parents and friends. Have mercy on the Poor Souls in Purgatory, and grant them eternal rest. Amen.

Prayers #5

O my God, I am truly sorry for all my sins,
because I have offended Thee, my God Who
art all good and deserving of all my love.

Forgive me, my God, and help me to never
sin again. Have mercy on poor sinners, especially those
who wilt die this night, and those who have no
one else to pray for them. Amen.

Prayers #6

Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray to God my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,
I pray the Lord to guide my ways.

Father, unto thee I pray,
Thou hast guarded me all day;
Safe I am while in thy sight,
Safely let me sleep tonight.
Bless my friends, the whole world bless;
Help me to learn helpfulness;
Keep me every in thy sight;
So to all I say good night.

Prayers #7

Now the light has gone away;
Savior, listen while I pray.
Asking Thee to watch and keep
And to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away
All that has been wrong to-day;
Help me every day to be
Good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be
Always near and dear to Thee.
O bring me and all I love
To Thy happy home above.

Prayers #8

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me:
Bless Thy little child to-night;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Keep me safe till morning light.

All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast warmed me, clothed me, fed me;
Listen to my evening prayer.

May my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, Lord, at last to heaven.
Happy there with Thee to dwell.

Prayers #9

Lord, I have passed another day
And come to thank Thee for Thy care.
Forgive my faults in work or play
And listen to my evening prayer.
Thy favor gives me daily bread
And friends, who all my wants supply:
And safely now I rest my head,
Preserved and guarded by Thine eye.

Prayers #10

The day is done;
O God the Son,
Look down upon
Thy little one!

O Light of Light,
Keep me this night,
And shed round me
Thy presence bright.

I need not fear
If Thou art near;
Thou art my Savior
Kind and dear

Prayers #11

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray The Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray The Lord my soul to take

But should I waken with the light,
’tis Jesus kept me through the night
and should I live another day,
I pray that Jesus guide my way.
Amen.

Prayers #12

There are 4 corners on my bed There are 4 angels over head Saint Matthew, Mark, Luke & John God Bless the bed that I lie on And If I die before I wake I pray The Lord my soul to take If any evil comes to me Blessed lady awaken me.

1. The Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen

2. The Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father.
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.

3. The Angelical Salutation, or 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.

4. The 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 by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

5. To the Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide.  Amen.

6. The Confiteor
I CONFESS to Almightly God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary, ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

            May the Almighty God have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life.  Amen.

            May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me pardon, absolution, and remission of all my sins.  Amen.

7. An Act of Faith
O My God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou has revealed them, who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

8. An Act of Hope
O My God, relying on Thy almightly power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

9. An Act of Charity
O My God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

10. The Angelus, to be said morning, noon and eve.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.  
Hail, Mary…
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. 
Hail, Mary…
V. And The Word Was Made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us. 
Hail, Mary…
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

11. The Salve Regina
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and 
our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, 
to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in
this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine
eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto
us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O
sweet Virgin Mary!

            V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
            R. That we may be made worthy of the promises 
            of Christ.
            V. Make me worthy to praise thee, holy Virgin.
            R. Give me strength against thine enemies.
            V. Blessed be God in His saints.
            R. Amen.

12. The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known
that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

13. Adoration 
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.

14. To St. Michael
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection
Against the malice and snares of the devil. We humbly beseech 
Thee, O God, to command him; and do Thou, O Prince of the
Heavenly host, by the divine power thrust into hell Satan and the 
Other evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the 
Destruction of souls. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. (said three times)

15. Grace before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

16. An Act of Contrition 
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

17. Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification;
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water from Christ’s side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be,
O good Jesus, listen to me.
In Thy wounds I fain would hide,
Never to be parted from Thy side.
Guard me when the foe assails me;
Guide me when my feet shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love, forever and ever.  Amen.

18. Prayer before a Crucifix, to be said after communion
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment.

Meanwhile, I contemplate with great love and tender mercy Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, and calling to mind with words which David in prophecy made Thee say concerning Thyself, my Jesus:

“They have pierced My hands and feet; they have numbered all my bones.”

19. Mary, Mother of Grace
Mary, Mother of grace, mother of mercy, shield me from the enemy and receive me at the hour of my death. (Roman Ritual)

20. The Divine Praises
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. 
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be
Praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every
Moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the
End of time.  Amen.

21. The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the land.

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

22. Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,
ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in
Purgatory, have mercy on them, especially N.. N..

Be not severe in Your judgments, but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames.

And, Merciful Savior, send Your angels to conduct them to A place of refreshment, light and peace.  Amen.

23. Mary Stewart’s Prayer
Keep us, O God, from all pettiness.
Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, 
without self pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment, and always be generous.
Let us always take time for all things, and make us to grow calm, serene and gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straight forword and unafraid. 
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences, that in the big things of life, we are as one.
And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind!   
Amen.

24. Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
    V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
    R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

25. Christianity
In the home it is kindness:
In the business it is honesty;
In society it is courtesy;
In work it is fairness;
Toward the unfortunate it is sympathy;
Toward the weak it is help;
Toward the wicked it is resistance;
Toward the strong it is trust;
Toward the penitent it is forgiveness;
Toward the successful it is congratulation;
And toward God it is reverence and obedience.

26. Learning Christ
Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle
In all the events of life-
  in disappointments,
  in the thoughtlessness of others,
  in the insincerity of those I trusted,
  in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside,
  to think of the happiness of others,
  to hide my little pains and heartaches,
  so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.

Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path.
Let me so use it that is may mellow me, not harden nor embitter me;
That it may make me patient, not irritable. That is may make me broad in
My forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure,
Less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow-traveler in our journey
Toward ETERNAL LIFE.

As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time,
A word of love to Thee. May my life be lived in the super-natural, full of power for
Good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity.