Catholic Prayers in English

The following includes prayers for vocations, common Catholic prayers and creeds in English. We invite you to pray with us these prayers or Catholic Prayers in Latin or Catholic Prayers in Spanish. Visit our list of Devotions, Meditations and Prayers on the Catholic Resources page for more prayer options. If you are in need of prayer, you are welcome to submit a prayer request to be posted on our online Prayer Book of Intentions. These prayers are offered up at the noon Mass celebrated on Wednesdays at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock.

Prayer for the Diocese of Little Rock

God our loving Father,
Pour out on us
the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
Open our ears to hear your Word.
Open our eyes to see your presence.
Open our minds to understand your Wisdom.
And open our hearts to be more available
for your mission, so that strengthened by your grace
we can truly be a sign and instrument
of your presence in our world today.

Strengthen our diocese, our parishes,
our bishop, priests, deacons, religious and laypeople.

Help us always to know your will.
Give us the courage we need to accept your will,
and the wisdom to know that we can accomplish nothing without you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

By Father Matthew Garrison, Rector
Cathedral of St. Andrew, Little Rock

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Diocesan Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father, remind us that when we pray
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
we commit ourselves to do your will,
whatever that may be.

Free us from the temptation to do our own will
rather than your will!

Give those you call to the priesthood and religious life
the courage to embrace your will
with generosity and self-sacrificing love.

Remove their fears
and fill our hearts with gratitude
that despite our unworthiness,
you would entrust to them
a role so great and necessary
in your plan of salvation.
Amen.

By Bishop Anthony B. Taylor
June 2011

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Prayer for Vocations

Loving Father,
you speak in the hearts of all your sons and daughters.
Help us to know your voice and to respond generously.
Make us faithful witnesses to your love in the world.

Raise up for us young men and women willing to place
their lives in the service of your Church.

Bless those who today are following that call.
Give them a desire to serve you and your people.

Help families so that openness and generosity
will first be learned in the home.

Through the intercession of Mary,
whose "yes" brought your Son into the world,
give us the courage to respond always according to your will.
Amen.

By Bishop Erik Pohlmeier
Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida

Bishop Pohlmeier wrote this prayer when he was pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock before being appointed bishop of St. Augustine.

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Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

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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.

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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.

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Prayer to St. Michael

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Sub Tuum Praesidium

We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.

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Glory Be 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.

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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.

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Nicene Creed

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 in 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.

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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 Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will 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 life everlasting. Amen.

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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 Most 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.
Amen.

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Act of Contrition

O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and 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 are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance,
and to amend my life.
Amen.

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Prayer to Your 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.

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Peace Prayer of St. Francis

Lord,
make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred,
let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving
that we receive;
it is in pardoning
that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

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Prayer Book of Intentions

You are welcome to submit a prayer request to be posted on the diocese’s online Prayer Book of Intentions. These prayers are offered up at the noon Mass celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor and other priests on Wednesdays at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. We invite you to also pray for these intentions at your parish, school, religious community or prayer group. Submit Prayer Request. | Leer en español.