Prayer is simply a method of talking to and praising God. This can be done either through extemporaneous prayer or through set or learned prayers. Both types of prayer are equally valid. One advantage of set prayers is that they can be recited in groups and they can be prayed when sometimes you may be at a loss for words.

Catholics have a rich repertoire of prayers composed over the centuries. The first and foremost is the Our Father (or the Lord's Prayer) as it was the prayer taught by Our Lord to the Apostles. Second is the Hail Mary (or Angelic Salutation) the first part of which is taken straight from Sacred Scripture. The third would have to be the Glory Be. These prayers are (or should be)  known by all Catholics and they form the foundation of the Rosary. You can find them and the Apostle's creed on the Prayers of the Rosary page.

Catholics are urged to begin and end their day with prayer. The Morning Offering is a short simple prayer offering all of the day to God.

The Morning Offering

O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
of this day for all the intentions
of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

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.

Prayer To St Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the hour of battle.
Be our defence against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God restrain 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

The Angelus

V: The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
R: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

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 may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts;
that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ Our Lord.

Regina Caeli

Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia!
For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!
Has risen as He said, Alleluia!
Pray for us to God, Alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
R. For the Lord has risen indeed, Alleluia!

Let us pray: O God, who hast given joy to the whole world
through the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;
grant that through the prayers of His Virgin Mother Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ, our Lord
Amen.

Prayer before a crucifix

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus,
I cast myself upon my knees in Your sight,
and with the most fervent desire of my soul
I pray and beseech You
that You would impress upon my heart
lively sentiments of Faith, Hope and Charity,
with a true repentance for my sins
and a firm purpose of amendment,
while with deep affection and grief of soul
I ponder within myself
and mentally contemplate
Your five most precious wounds,
having before my eyes
that which David spoke in prophecy of You, O good Jesus:
they have pierced my hands and feet,
they have numbered all my bones.

Act of Faith

O my God, I firmly believe
all the truths
that the Holy Catholic Church believes and teaches;
I believe these truths, O Lord,
because Thou, the infallible Truth,
hast revealed them to her;
in this faith I am resolved to live and die. Amen.

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thy promises,
I hope that, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ,
Thou wilt grant me pardon of my sins,
and the graces necessary to serve Thee in this life
and to obtain eternal happiness in the next. Amen

Act of Charity

O my God, I love Thee with my whole heart and above all things,
because Thou art infinitely good and perfect;
and I love my neighbour as myself for love of Thee.
Grant that I may love Thee more and more in this life,
and in the next for all eternity. Amen

Grace Before Meals

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

Grace After Meals

We give Thee thanks, O almighty God,
for all Thy benefits, gifts and graces
Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

The Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the evil enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
Forever and ever
Amen

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins,
and detest them above all things,
because they deserve They dreadful punishments,
because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ
and, most of all, becuase they offend Thine infinite goodness;
and I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
never to offend Thee again,
and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin. Amen

Prayer Found Under Christ's Sepulchre 1503AD

O God Almighty, who suffered death upon the cross, particularly for my sins, be with me.
Holy Cross of Jesus, have pity on me.
Holy Cross of Jesus, be my protector.
Holy Cross of Jesus, take away all bitter pains.
Holy Cross of Jesus, take away all evil.
Holy Cross of Jesus, let me walk in the way of salvation.

Preserve me from any temporal accidents, take away any danger of sudden death.

I always adore the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ;

Jesus of Nazareth crucified, have pity on me; Make the spirit of evil leave me for all times.

O Mother of Perpetual Succour. I come before Thy Sacred picture and with a child-like conscience invoke thine aid. Show Thyself a Mother to me now. Have pity of me. O, dearest Mother of Perpetual Succour, for the love Thou bearest to Jesus and in honour of His Sacred Wounds, help me in this my necessity..

(Mention your intentions here...)

O Loving Mother, I leave all to thee in the Name of the Father. I leave all to thee in the Name of the Son. I leave all to thee in the Name of the Holy Spirit.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, pray for us.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, pray for us.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, pray for us.

Amen.

(This prayer has been known for quite a while. He who wants or hears someone else read it or carries it on his person will not die suddenly, drwon, burn, be poisoned or lose battle or be taken prisoner. During childbirth, a woman who reads or listens to someons else read the prayer, or carries it on her person will have a short labour. When the child is born, place the prayer on his or her right side and it will be preserved from evil. If you find anyone having a fit, put the prayer on his right side and he will recover. He who writes this prayer whether for himself of for another, I will bless him, says the Lord. When this prayer is placed in  a home, that home will be preserved from lightning and thunder. He who reads it daily will be give a sign 3 days before his death.)

Eternal Father, I offer you the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all its love, all its sufferings and all its merit.

First: To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and all my life. Glory be to the Father...

Second: To purify the good I have done poorly this day and during all my life. Glory be to the Father...

Third: To supply for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and all my life. Glory be to the Father...

[History: Soon after the death of a poor Clare nun, she appeared to her abbess, whop was praying for her and said: "I went straight to Heaven because I paid all my debts by virtue of this prayer."]