Daily Prayer Table of Contents
- Intro: Why is Daily Prayer Important?
- Short, Simple Daily Prayers for Today
- Common Catholic Daily Prayers
- Hail Mary
- Our Father
- Glory Be
- Prayers to the Holy Spirit
- Daily Prayer Customs in Catholic Faith
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Daily Examen
- The Rosary
- Novenas
- Daily Prayer Inspired by Saints
- Praying With Scripture Each Day
- Bible in a Year
- Daily Prayer During Lent
- More Resources to Pray Today
Our habits matter.
Just as habits (good and bad) can impact our health, our career and our relationships with others, they can also affect our prayer life and our relationship with God.
And our relationship with God can impact everything.
The roots of daily prayer predate the Church itself. As Christianity Today points out, “The practice of daily, set prayer goes back to the Old Testament.” Early Christians then emulated Jewish customs by praying each day. The Church has echoed the message of the importance of praying often for centuries.
More recently, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of daily prayer during one of his papal audiences in February 2021.
“It is in the present that we encounter Him, not yesterday or tomorrow, but today.”
Prayer is transformative. Praying each day is one of the most important habits we can build.
And you can start with some very simple prayers.
Short Catholic Prayers for Today
Sometimes, our days don’t always allow us the opportunity to carve out a long period of time devoted entirely to prayer.
Even if we prioritize God in our lives, sometimes we need a simple way to connect with our loving Creator, who is always happy to hear from us.
“God, help me navigate whatever challenges I encounter this day. Be my comfort and my rock. Guide me to do Your will and be an instrument of your peace today and each day. Amen.”
“Heavenly Father, as I embark on this day, I ask for Your blessing. Help me feel near to You, with my eyes open to the ways that You are at work in my life. In Your name I pray. Amen.”
“Sometimes, Father, in the midst of days like today, I can be overcome by things that I want or need. When I pause in moments like this, I know that You are what I truly need. Help me center my day on You. May I share the peace that provides me with those around me. Amen.”
Common Prayers Said Daily
The first prayers that many Catholics and Christians learn are sometimes the ones we most often pray.
Daily prayer does not need to be complicated or complex. The simple words we learn as children can shape our prayer life each day.
As you offer up these prayers each day, be aware of not mindlessly reciting the words by rote. Pray the words, don’t merely repeat them. These prayers are not long, but they are powerful.
Hail Mary
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed are 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.”
See Hallow’s complete guide to the Hail Mary.
Lord’s Prayer / 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.
See Hallow’s full guide to the Lord’s Prayer.
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.”
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit (repeated)
See Hallow’s full guide to Holy Spirit prayers.
Daily Prayer Traditions in Catholic Faith
The Catholic faith is also rich in daily prayer traditions that transcend a single prayer.
For centuries, these forms of prayer have unified Catholics in prayer and brought millions of people closer to God.
Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of these different forms of prayer is their diversity. Some are shot; some are more involved. Some are very structured while some are more open ended.
Learn more about these various prayer customs and prayerfully consider which you might be called to exploe.
Liturgy of the Hours
Sometimes referred to as Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours structures a day in prayer. Based in Scripture, Liturgy of the Hours includes a very specific format of prayers for certain times of the day, including:
- Morning Prayer
- Daytime Prayer
- Evening Prayer
- Night Prayer
Priests, brothers, deacons and those in formation to enter religious life are all required to recite the Liturgy of the Hours each day. Many lay people join them. If you pray the Liturgy of the Hours, you’ll be in good company!
Learn more from Hallow’s guide on praying the Liturgy of the Hours at night.
Daily Examen
Examination is a ritual that dates back to the early doctors of the Church. St. Ignatius further popularized it in the 16th century, in his Spiritual Exercises and it remains a popular way to spend time in prayer.
The examen (also called “examination of consciousness”) in Ignatian spirituality guides us through our day, processing everything we did, all the conversations we had, and how we felt.
As we reflect on the day, it can become clear where God is at work, where He is leading us or challenging us, as well as where we might have missed the mark.
Check out Hallow’s full guide for praying the Daily Examen
The Rosary
Perhaps the most well-known Catholic daily prayer tradition is the Rosary.
The Rosary is not a prayer in and of itself; rather, it’s a series of prayers repeated around the structure of a pair of Rosary beads. It includes the Apostle’s Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.
The Rosary can be prayed once a week, once a day or multiple times a day. Hallow makes it easy with our step-by-step guide on how to pray the Rosary.
Novenas
Novenas are nine-day series of prayer, rooted in the period of time that Mary and the disciples prayed together before the Holy Spirit came down on them (Acts 2:1).
Often centered on a particular intention, novenas help us draw closer to God, sometimes through the intercession of a particular saint.
The St. Jude Novena, St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena and 54-Day Novena are all popular examples of this form of prayer.
Learn more with Hallow’s full guide to novenas.
Daily Prayer Inspired by Saints
We recognize many saints throughout the liturgical year, and on November 1, we celebrate them all with All Saints Day.
Learning about the saints can inspire us to be more holy. It can remind us that we don’t need to make big, sweeping displays of our faith, nor must we be perfect every day.
Saints were human and experienced many of the same feelings and struggles as we do. You probably know some of the more popular saints, but there are many lesser-known saints whose stories are equally inspiring.
The Vatican features a Saint of the Day, and other websites offer the same. The Hallow app offers a Daily Saint section that features a short biography of a saint, followed by meditation and prayer based on that saint.
See Hallow’s full guide on praying with saints.
Praying With Scripture Each Day
Just as spending time with the saints each day can enrich our prayer life, so too can reading passages from the Bible.
When we attend Mass on Sunday, we hear three readings from Scripture. Those don’t have to be the only three pieces of Scripture we take in each week!
The USCCB publishes the daily Mass readings on its site each day. Even if you don’t attend daily Mass, you can reflect on the Bible passages (on most weekdays, there are only two.)
You don’t need to feel pressured to read chapter after chapter, like a normal book. With the practice of Lectio Divina, you can be moved by a single phrase or word.
There is, however, something special about reading the entire Bible.
Praying with Bible in a Year
Fr. Mike Schmitz’s work with the Bible in a Year podcast through Ascension Press has been nothing short of amazing.
Bible in a Year, also available inside of the Hallow app, is one of the top rated and most downloaded podcasts in the world.
Each day, Fr. Mike reads pieces of Scripture before praying with them and offering an explanation of the passages and sharing other insights.
You don’t need to start Bible in a Year on January 1. Learn more about Bible in a Year and consider starting your journey with the Bible today.
Daily Prayer During Lent
There’s never a bad time to begin praying each day, but Lent is among the best and most popular times when people devote time to prayer on a daily basis. In fact, Google Trends tells us that people looking for daily prayer peaks ahead of Ash Wednesday.
For many, daily prayer is a way to satisfy the question of what to give up for Lent.
Prayer is one of the three pillars of Lent, along with fasting and almsgiving, so dedicating oneself to more consistent prayer is a great way to observe Lent. It helps us remember our reliance on God, our need for His forgiveness and His endless mercy.
Many churches will launch prayer groups during Lent, perhaps focused on a particular book or Scripture. There are always simple Lent prayers you can return to on busy days leading up to Easter.
More Resources to Pray Today
- Confession Prayers
- Prayers for Strength
- Prayers for Anxiety
- Prayers for Hope
FAQs
What prayers should a Catholic say everyday? ›
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. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
What prayers should I say every day? ›Father in heaven, I stand before You today in Your omnipotent presence to ask that You grant me strength. I want You to give me the strength to power through all of the tasks today — whether little or big. It is by Your will that I live oh Lord. And I know it is also by Your will I will not go weak today.
What are the 3 powerful prayers? ›The prayer of protection. The prayer of transformation. The prayer of restoration.
What morning prayer should Catholic pray everyday? ›God our Father, I come before you this morning, I thank you for the gift of my life, the life of my family members and that of my friends. Thank you, Lord, for directing, protecting, guiding, guarding, governing and taking care of me throughout the night.
What is the most important prayer for Catholics? ›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.
What is the most powerful Catholic prayer? ›“The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life.
What is a simple prayer for everyday life? ›Today's Daily Prayer
Lord our God, we thank you for filling our hearts with such great trust. We thank you for all we are given in our lives, above all that we can come to know Jesus Christ. We thank you that over and over we can draw strength and life from his life.
Prayer for a New Day
Dear Lord, This morning as I contemplate a new day, I ask you to help me. I want to be aware of your spirit—leading me in the decisions I take, the conversations I have, and the work I do. I want to be more like you, Jesus, as I relate to the people I meet today—friends or strangers.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians.
What are the 5 basic prayers in Catholic? ›- Our Father.
- Hail Mary.
- Glory Be (Doxology)
- Prayer to Your Guardian Angel.
- Morning Offering.
- Nicene Creed.
- Apostles' Creed.
- Act of Contrition.
What is the most powerful prayer ever? ›
It is called the "Jesus Prayer", and it consists simply in uttering the single word "Jesus" (or "Lord Jesus", or "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner") in any situation, at any time and place, either aloud or silently.
What is the most important pray? ›The Lord's Prayer is the most widely known prayer in Christianity and is said across most Christian denominations . Jesus often spoke about the importance of prayer for developing a relationship with God. When asked by his followers how they should pray, he taught them the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13).
How do you start a Catholic prayer? ›Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech thee, 0 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. Amen.
How many hours should a Catholic pray? ›Very briefly, the Liturgy of the Hours is based in the psalms. There are five “hours” during the day: Morning, Daytime, Evening, Night, and Office of Readings. They do not actually take an hour to pray, each one can be about 15-20 minutes. Night prayer is my favorite one, although it can be a little dark at times.
What is a powerful prayer to say? ›Father God, we bow before you, and recognize our great need of a Savior. Today we want to lift our hearts and give thanks for Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We lift our hearts in praise to our Savior, and as your loved children and your redeemed servants, we lay our lives before you in worship.
What is the oldest Catholic prayer? ›This prayer, known in Latin as Sub tuum Praesidium and first found in a Greek papyrus, c. 300 A.D., is the oldest known prayer to the Virgin.
What is the prayer that never fails? ›The most effective prayer, the one that is always answered, is this: “Father, glorify Your name.” “Answer my cry, O Lord, in a way that will accomplish Your will, for Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. It is best for You, and therefore best for me and any others who may be affected by this prayer.
What is the miracle prayer for Catholic? ›Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am, I am sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your Name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce Satan, the evil spirits and all their works.
What is the 3 o'clock miracle prayer? ›“At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow.
What is the shortest most powerful prayer? ›“O Allah, protect me from any Pains and Sufferings.” This includes both Dunya and Akhirah. Al-Abbas (R.A.) thought about this for a while, and then he came back after a few days and said (paraphrased):
What is the best prayer to God? ›
“Father in heaven, I stand before You today in Your omnipotent presence to ask that You grant me strength. I want You to give me the strength to power through all of the tasks today — whether little or big. It is by Your will that I live oh Lord. And I know it is also by Your will I will not go weak today.
How do you pray a short opening prayer? ›Here is an example of a short opening prayer for the morning to our Lord God; Dear God, we give thanks to you, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for another beautiful day with our loved ones. As we conduct our day, you are forever in our hearts and thoughts.
How do you pray when you don't know what to say? ›- Pray God's Word.
- Pray by the Spirit.
- Ask for Prayer.
- Prayer Journaling.
- Pray for someone else.
- Make a gratitude list.
- Listen.
- Adoration and praise. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ...
- Recognize God's will and sovereignty. ...
- Express your needs and don't forget to pray for others. ...
- Repent and ask for forgiveness. ...
- Ask God to keep you from temptation. ...
- Close with praise and adoration.
Thank you for our home and a place to sleep and good food to eat. Help us rest well, give us peaceful dreams, and send your angels around our home to protect us throughout the night. Teach us to trust you and to love you more and more. You are good; you are great; and you are faithful, God.
What is the Catholic prayer for strength? ›We know, O Lord, that You call us to build Your kingdom here on earth through love and care of those around us who are most vulnerable and most in need. Today, I lift up my friend, who is weary, suffering and in need of strength. Give them the power to live today in courage and hope.
What is a Catholic blessing prayer? ›In the Catholic Church, a blessing is a rite consisting of a ceremony and prayers performed in the name and with the authority of the Church by a duly qualified minister by which persons or things are sanctified as dedicated to divine service or by which certain marks of divine favour are invoked upon them.
What is the correct order of prayer? ›They are based on a well-known format: A.C.T.S. = adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.
What are the 5 daily prayers in order? ›- Fajr (prayed at dawn)
- Dhuhr (prayed at midday)
- Asr (prayed in the afternoon)
- Maghrib (prayed at sunset)
- Isha (prayed at night)
- Prayer of Blessing and Adoration (praising God)
- Prayer of Petition (asking for what we need, including forgiveness)
- Prayer of Intercession (asking for what others need)
- Prayer of Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)
What is the most neglected type of prayer? ›
Perhaps the most neglected type of prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving. While praying “Grace” before meals is a good example of a prayer of thanksgiving, we should get into the habit of thanking God throughout the day for all the good things that happen to us and others.
What is Jesus most famous prayer? ›The most widely accepted form of the prayer is “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” It reflects the biblical idea that the name of God is sacred and that its invocation implies a direct meeting with the divine.
What is the Catholic miracle prayer for healing? ›Miracle Prayer – Miracle Healing Prayer
Father, let Your divine power wash through all the nooks and crannies in my body and fill it up in The Name of Jesus. Make me whole and a walking testament of Your power, so I may dance in joy to Your name. I uplift Your name for the favor and In Jesus Name. Amen.
Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You desire to spend time with me, and You have even called me Your friend. God, Your Word says if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me—and I want to be near to You.
How do Catholics pray properly? ›Prayer may be expressed vocally or mentally. Vocal prayer may be spoken or sung. Mental prayer can be either meditation or contemplation. The basic forms of prayer are adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication, abbreviated as A.C.T.S.
What is the simple Catholic morning prayer? ›At awakening in the morning, say: O my God, my only good, the author of my being and my last end, I give You my heart. Praise, honor, and glory be to You for ever and ever. Amen.
How many times should a believer pray in a day? ›The injunction for Christians to pray the Lord's prayer thrice daily was given in Didache 8, 2 f., which, in turn, was influenced by the Jewish practice of praying thrice daily found in the Old Testament, specifically in Psalm 55:17, which suggests "evening and morning and at noon", and Daniel 6:10, in which the ...
How many hours a day does the pope pray? ›DAILY ROUTINE: Francis rises on his own at around 4:30 a.m. and spends the next two hours praying, meditating on the Scripture readings for the day and preparing his morning homily. He delivers it off-the-cuff at the 7 a.m. Mass in the chapel of the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel where he lives.
How long should I pray every day? ›There is no such thing as praying too much. There is only praying too little. Because prayer can do all the things that God can do. But I advise you to start little, maybe with 15 minutes/day and then shoot for consistency for at least three weeks or 21 days.
What are the 5 types of Catholic prayers? ›Various forms of prayer are presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2623-2649). These various forms include prayer of blessing or adoration, prayer of petition, prayer of intercession, prayer of thanksgiving, and prayer of praise.
Can you tell me a daily prayer? ›
Today's Daily Prayer
Our dear Father, we ask you to come to us from heaven and surround us with your goodness and mercy, with your light and life. We are weak, poor, and lost just when we need to stand firm and hold on. But you are faithful. You stay by us and help us.
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.
What is the best short prayer? ›“Father in heaven, I stand before You today in Your omnipotent presence to ask that You grant me strength. I want You to give me the strength to power through all of the tasks today — whether little or big. It is by Your will that I live oh Lord. And I know it is also by Your will I will not go weak today.
What is the basic Catholic 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.
How many times a day should a Catholic pray? ›Daily prayer
In the Catholic Church, the laity are encouraged to pray daily the canonical hours contained in the Liturgy of the Hours, which are done at seven fixed prayer times.
A Prayer for First Thing in the Morning
Great is Your faithfulness and Your steadfast love, O Lord! I don't know what all is going to happen today, and how much I'll get done, but You do. So I give this day to You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Father.
The most common prayer among Christians is the "Lord's Prayer", which according to the gospel accounts (e.g. Matthew 6:9-13) is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray.