Prayers

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2559) states, "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."

We are probably all familiar with the second part of this definition. Who among us, in some time of need or distress, has not called upon God for assistance? But, what does the first part of this definition really mean? What does it mean to raise one's mind and heart to God?

Most of us can come to a basic understanding of this by answering the question, "What does it mean to unite our mind and heart with a fellow human?" We do this by talking to the person and spending time with them, sharing our thoughts, emotions, experiences, values and goals, by putting our trust in someone and by demonstrating our own trustworthiness. The more we spend time with, communicate and work together toward common objectives, the closer relationship we develop with that person. In the closest relationships, we often are happy just to be in the presence of that person; when we deeply love someone we want to share all of their experiences, whether that be sharing in joyful occasions or comforting them in times of sorrow.

This is also what it means to raise one's mind and heart to God. God wants a close, intimate relationship with us, a relationship which involves Him in every aspect of our lives. He wants us to trust in Him, to share our good times and troubles, to request His assistance. But we will not have such a relationship if we fail to spend time with Him. We do this through prayer. We use our minds and hearts to bless, adore and praise God as our divine creator, and strive to understand God. We ask God to help us in our daily needs and in times of trouble. We should give thanksgiving for all of the blessings and graces He provides us.

How many of us would expect a good marriage to exist, if a couple rarely spoke to one another, and rarely spent time together? How would we expect the couple to really love one another if they only spoke when they needed something from the other person? A loving relationship requires that both partners set aside time for each other, that they communicate, know, trust and support one another in good times and bad. In summary, a good relationship is hard work.

We know that these things are required to have a good marriage. Why then, do so many people expect to have a good relationship with God, with little or no effort toward that relationship? We must work toward a good relationship with God.

Core
• Sign Of The Cross
• Our Father
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be
• Apostles' Creed
• Nicene Creed
• Stations of the Cross
• The Rosary

To the Holy Spirit
• Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit
• Come, Holy Spirit
• Come, Holy Spirit, Come
• Invocation to the Holy Spirit
• Most Holy Spirit
• Novena to the Holy Spirit
• Outpouring of Spirit
• Pentecost Prayer
• Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Prayer to the Holy Spirit I
• Prayer to the Holy Spirit II
• Veni, Creator Spiritus

To Jesus
• Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Act of Spiritual Communion
• Akita Prayer
• Anima Christi
• Chaplet of the Divine Mercy
• First Fridays in Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• The Golden Arrow
• Holy Are Your Ways
• The Jesus Prayer
• Litany in Honor of Jesus, King of All Nations
• Litany of Divine Mercy
• Litany of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim
• Litany of the Most Precious Blood
• Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• The Lord is My Shepherd
• Novena in Honor of Jesus as True King
• Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• O Saving Victim (O Salutaris Hostia)
• Padre Pio's Prayer After Holy Communion
• Prayer Before a Crucifix
• Prayer of Renewal
• Tantum Ergo

Intercession of the Blessed Mother
• A Child's Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (for Religious and Laity)
• Act of Entrustment to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary (For Young People)
• Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Cenacles of the Marian Movement of Priests
• Consecration to Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace
• Consecration to Mary - Daily Prayer
• Fatima Prayers
• First Saturdays in Honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Our Lady of All Nations
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel
• Memorare
• Our Lady of Guadalupe I
• Our Lady of Guadalupe II
• Our Lady of Good Remedy Novena
• Our Lady of Lourdes
• Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament
• Our Lady of the New Millennium
• Our Lady of the Rosary Novena
• Parish Priest's Prayer to Mary Most Holy
• Prayer of Bl Anna Maria
• Prayer to Mary of St. Louis De Montfort
• Prayer to Our Lady
• Prayer to Our Lady of Knock
• Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
• Regina Caeli
• Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
• Sub Tuum

Intercession of the Saints and Angels & Prayers by Saints
• Guardian Angel Prayer
• Litany of Saint Anthony of Padua
• Litany of Saint Philomena
• Memorare to St. Joseph
• Miraculous Invocation To St. Therese
• Morning Prayer of St. Therese
• Novena for the Intercession of Saint Faustina
• Novena to Saint Jude
• Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua
• Novena to Saint Philomena
• Novena to Saint Therese on the Feast of Saint Therese (October 1)
• Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
• Prayer of Padre Pio After Communion
• Prayer of St. Francis
• Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great
• Prayer to all Guardian Angels
• Prayer of St. Charles Borromeo
• Prayer to Blessed Juan Diego I
• Prayer to Blessed Juan Diego II
• Prayer of Thanksgiving to St. Anthony of Padua
• Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua I
• Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua II
• Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua III
• Prayer to St. Anthony, Gentle Servant of God
• Prayer to St. Charles Borromeo
• Prayer to St. Dominic Savio
• Prayer to St. Dominic Savio for Parents and Children
• Prayer to St. Gerard for Motherhood
• Prayer to St. Gerard for Safe Delivery
• Prayer to St. James the Apostle
• Prayer to St. Joseph - I
• Prayer to St. Joseph - II
• Prayer to St. Joseph - III
• Prayer to St. Joseph by Pope Pius X
• Prayer to St. Joseph in Time of Need
• Prayer to St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church
• Prayer to St. Jude
• Prayer to St. Michael
• Prayer to St. Philomena
• Prayer to St. Philomena, The Beloved
• Prayer to St. Rita
• Prayers to St. Dymphna
• Shield of St. Patrick
• St. Gertrude's Guardian Angel Prayer
• Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony of Padua

For Family
• A Father's Prayer
• Act of Entrustment to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary (For Young People)
• Graduation Prayer
• Prayer for Healing the Family Tree
• Prayer for our Youth
• Prayer for the Entrustment of the Family
• Prayer of Children for their Parents
• Prayer of Parents for their Children
• For Priests and the Priesthood
• A Holy Church and for Priests
• Prayer for Priests - I
• A Prayer for Priests - II
• A Prayer for Priests - III
• A Prayer for Priests - IV
• A Prayer for Priests - V
• Litany for Vocations
• The Lord's Prayer for Vocations
• Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament for Vocations
• Prayer for the Pope
• Prayer for My Vocation
• Prayer for Priests and Religious
• Prayer for Vocations - I
• Prayer for Vocations - II
• Prayer for Vocations for Homebound
• Rosary for Vocations

For Forgiveness
• Act of Contrition
• Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Miscellaneous
• A Prayer for our National Elections
• Advent Wreath Prayers
• Angelus
• Ascension Prayer
• Chaplet of Unity
• Deliver Them from Purgatory
• The Divine Praises
• Five Finger Prayer
• Following Mary's Example
• For the Spread of the Gospel
• For your Parish
• Grace After Meals
• Grace Before Meals
• Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus)
• Life Teen Prayer
• Magnificat
• Prayer During Hurricane Season
• Prayer for Healing
• Prayer for Peace by Pope John Paul II
• Prayer for Spiritual Adoption
• Prayer for the Helpless Unborn
• Prayer for the Salvation of the World
• Prayer for the Reconciliation of Protestants
• Prayer for the Sick
• Prayer for Those in Active Service
• Prayer of Solace
• Saint Anne's Cord for Christian Mothers
• Serenity Prayer
• Thanksgiving after Holy Communion
• The Miracle Prayer