- About Prayer
- Types of Prayer
- Tips for Praying
- Sign of the Cross
- The Apostles’ Creed and The Nicene Creed
- Prayer for Fathers
- Sin and Virtue
- Jesus Prayer
- Examination of Conscience
- Act of Spiritual Communion
- The Crucifixion and Resurrection
- Soul of Christ
- About Guardian Angels
- About Saints
- Works of Mercy
- About the Stations of the Cross
- About The Rosary
- About Mary
- About The Divine Mercy Chaplet
- About Chaplets
- About Litanies
- About Novenas
About Prayer
- Prayer is a conversation between us and God.
- Prayer is an expression of praise, thanks, or need.
- Prayer can be at any time of the day or night.
- Prayer can be anywhere: home, work, car, etc.
- Prayer is how we grow our relationship with God.
- Prayer can be:
- two words or two thousand.
- pre-written or spontaneous.
- spoken, sung, or silent thoughts.
Types of Prayer
- Adoration. Giving praise and glory to God.
- Thanksgiving. Thanking God always, for every aspect of our lives, even our struggles.
- Petition. Asking God to help us.
- Intercession. Asking God to help others.
- Contrition. Telling God we are sorry when we don’t follow his commandments.
Tips for Praying
- Pray every day, in a quiet place, by ourselves.
- Put God first and pray before we start our day.
- Turn off distractions and focus on God.
- Talk to God as we would to a good friend, sharing our joys, sorrows, anger, needs, etc.
- Quiet our mind and listen; God speaks to us in the silence of our heart.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray; and listen.
- Throughout the day, continue to pray; ask for help, give thanks, and give praise.
- The soul needs prayer like the body needs oxygen.
- There is no wrong way, just pray!
Video: Tips on Praying for a Busy Person with Fr. Mike (7 minutes)
Video: How Bishop Barron Learned to Pray (8 minutes)
Audio: Developing the Habit of Daily Prayer with Dr. Sri (26 minutes)
Sign of the Cross 
The sign of the cross began in the early centuries after Jesus was crucified on a cross. During the sacrament of Baptism, the celebrant would mark a cross on the forehead of those being baptized.
Article: A Short History of the Sign of the Cross
Video: The Sign of the Cross with Fr. Brice
Video: The Sign of the Cross with Fr. Brad
The Apostles’ Creed
and
The Nicene Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is from the early centuries after the resurrection of Jesus. It was rumored to have been developed by the original Apostles themselves, hence the name, but that is not true.
The Apostles’ Creed was expanded in the year 325 at the Council of Nicaea, to address certain heresies of the day, especially those that denied the Holy Trinity.
The Nicene Creed is professed by many churches including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.
Audio: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed with Bishop Barron
Prayer for Fathers
The 4 cardinal virtues are prudence (wisdom), justice, fortitude (courage), and temperance (self-control). Cardinal is a latin word for hinge, meaning that all moral virtues hinge off them.
- Wisdom: Seeing things from God’s perspective and make decisions that align with God’s will.
- Justice: Respecting the rights of others by treating them fairly and with dignity.
- Courage: Doing what is right even when faced with challenges and persecution.
- Self-control: Moderating one’s speech, emotions, and actions over the impulses and desires of the body.
Sin and Virtue
By the 4th century a list of deadly sins was compiled. In the 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great refined the list and that list is what we have today.
Article: The Seven Deadly Sins – Catholic Answers
Audio: 3 Signs We Struggle with Pride with Dr. Sri
Audio: The Bible Commands Us to be Angry? with Dr. Sri
Jesus Prayer
The prayer originated from monasteries in the 4th century and is rooted in biblical passages such as the following:
- Mark 10:47 Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
- Luke 18:13 God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
In Jewish tradition numbers often symbolize concepts.
The number 12 symbolizes completeness, God’s authority, and perfect governance. For example, the 12 tribes of Israel.
The number 14 symbolizes kingship, deliverance, and salvation. For example, 14 is the numeric value of the name David, the great king of Israel.
One version of the Jesus Prayer has 12 words with the line Son of God. This version has 14 words; with the line Son of the living God.
Examination of Conscience
An examination of conscience is a prayerful reflection on our thoughts, words, and actions, to identify those times we have failed to live according to God’s will.
It is good to perform an examination each night just before bed. This daily practice brings to mind those opportunities where we can better align ourselves with God.
The following link has several examinations to choose from; all based on the Word of God.
Additional Examinations of Conscience
Act of Spiritual Communion
The practice of praying an act of spiritual communion was first started in the 5th century. It evolved over the centuries and in the 1700’s, St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote this prayer.
Article: A Short History and Theology of Spiritual Communion
Video: The Real Presence in the Eucharist with Bishop Barron
The Crucifixion and Resurrection
Through his death on the cross, Jesus freed us from sin, and by rising from the dead, he opened the door to eternal life.
The Resurrection proved that Jesus is the Son of God, and that all he said was true. In order to live with him forever in heaven, we must turn away from our sins and do as he commands.
Video: The Revolution of the Resurrection with Bishop Barron
Video: Christ, and Him Crucified with Bishop Barron
Video: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with Fr. Mike
Soul of Christ
The author of this prayer is unknown but it is believed to have been written in the 14th century. St. Ignatius of Loyola popularized this prayer in the 16th century by including it in his spiritual exercises. Those exercises included prayers and meditations aimed to help people deepen their relationship with God. One line from the prayer, highlighted in red and italics below, has been removed to enhance the poetic flow.
…
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me,
…
About Guardian Angels
Psalm 91:11 NIV
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;”
Matthew 18:10 NIV
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
Video: How Guardian Angels Actually Work with Fr. Mike (6 minutes)
About Saints
One of the beliefs we state in the Apostles’ Creed is the belief in the communion of saints.
A saint is someone who is faithful to God. The communion of saints is the connection of all members of the Church, including those on earth trying to become a saint and those in heaven who are saints. The Church gives some individuals in heaven the title of ‘Saint’ for their exceptional holiness and acts of faith.
We have pictures and statues of our historical and spiritual heroes to remind us of what they have done and to inspire us to be like them. We may admire and adore these heroes, but we don’t worship them or their statues. We only worship God.
Saints are alive in heaven and are part of our Church family. Just as we may ask a friend at church to pray for us, we may ask the saints in heaven to do the same. Saints come from all walks of life and have struggles just like us. Read their stories.
Audio: Do the Saints Distract Us from God? with Dr. Sri
Works of Mercy
Video: Corporal Works of Mercy with Fr. Mike
Video: Spiritual Works of Mercy with Bishop Barron
Video: Spiritual Works of Mercy with Fr. Alar
About the Stations of the Cross
Millions of people make pilgrimages to the Holy Land, to walk the same path as Jesus when he carried the Cross. There are 14 locations, also called stations, where major events of his crucifixion took place. Eight of these are found in the Bible and six were passed down through tradition.
Meditating on each Station of the Cross brings us closer to Christ through his Passion. Those who can’t visit the Holy Land are able to make a spiritual pilgrimage through prayer.
About The Rosary
Pebbles, knotted strings, beads, and other devices have been used for thousands of years by many religions to help people keep track of their prayers.
Jesus said we are to pray constantly. As early as the 3rd century, monks would pray all 150 Psalms every day. The common person would recite 150 Our Fathers using pebbles or a knotted string.
Over the centuries, the format and prayers of this spiritual practice has evolved into The Rosary. The rhythm and repetition of Rosary prayers helps us calm our mind so we can meditate on the life of Jesus.
Video: Why Pray The Rosary with Bishop Barron
Video: How to Pray The Rosary with Bishop Barron
Video: The Easy Way to Pray The Rosary with Fr. Mike
Video: The Rosary vs. The Divine Mercy Chaplet with Fr. Mike
About Mary
When the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary he said “Hail, full of grace.” She was filled with the presence of God, chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Pregnancy out of wedlock meant punishment by death, however, Mary trusted in the Lord and said, “let it be done to me according to your word.”
Mary devoted her life to Jesus. She held him as a baby in the stable, and she held his body at the foot of the Cross. The Bible says Mary is the mother of our Lord and blessed among women for all generations. It is fitting for us to honor Mary.
Over the centuries Mary has appeared to people all over the world where she encouraged various forms of prayer and devotion to her Son, including the Rosary. Through these apparitions, millions of people have come to know Jesus.
About The Divine Mercy Chaplet
Sister Faustina Kowalska was born in Poland in 1905, entered the convent at the age of 20, and died when she was 33.
During her time in the convent, Jesus appeared to Faustia many times and asked her to spread his message of Divine Mercy; no matter what we have done, if we turn to God, he will forgive us.
Faustina wrote what Jesus said in her diary. One thing he told her was how to pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Video: The Rosary vs. The Divine Mercy Chaplet with Fr. Mike
About Chaplets
A chaplet is a string of beads that helps us keep track of our prayers. The beads are a physical and tactile reminder that we are in the presence of God.
There are many chaplets, each focused on a different prayer intention. The most common chaplets are The Rosary and The Divine Mercy Chaplet which have five sets of 10 beads.
Instructions on how to pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet are at the bottom of this page and on the PDF above.
Video: The Rosary vs. The Divine Mercy Chaplet with Fr. Mike
About Litanies
A litany is a series of similar prayer requests. Early Christians would ask Apostles and other holy people in heaven to pray for them. There were many prayer formats and lists of saints for these early litanies.
In 595, Pope Gregory the Great formalized the Litany of the Saints prayer. Over time, the list of saints has evolved and different lists are used in different parts of the word for different purposes.
In 1973, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy published a Litany of Saints that is traditionally chanted. In 1987, John D. Becker modified the Litany of Saints to create this musical version.
About Novenas
After the ascension of Jesus, the Apostles and Mary spent nine days in prayer in the Upper Room, until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The word novena comes from the Latin word for nine, and it refers to the practice of praying for nine days, in private or with others.
A novena can be prayers, hymns, readings, or spiritual acts. A novena is offered for a special intention such as healing, discernment, or another special grace. We can pray the novena for ourselves or for others.
A novena can vary in length, from a few minutes to several hours. What is important is not the length, but the sincerity of one’s prayer and trusting in the will of God. He knows his children and answers their prayers, how and when is best for them.
Our Family Prayers 