It is universally accepted – a “self-evident truth,” as Thomas Jefferson would have put it – that one cannot be a saint without prayer. The more we pray, the more we know the heart of God. The more we know the heart of God, the more we long to be drawn into it. The more we long to be drawn into it, the more we want to do all for love of Him. The more we want to do all for love of Him, the less we want to do anything for love of self, for that is the path to sin, and the path to sin is the path to slavery to sin and thus perdition.
With this understanding, the Diocese of Santa Rosa has made the various prayers on the sub-menus for this directory available to you. The bishop earnestly desires nothing more than that all who fall under his pastoral care and all who come upon these pages become saints so that they may enjoy eternal peace and happiness in the “world without end,” heaven.
Please feel free to make use of these prayers if you believe they will aid your growth in holiness. All we ask in return is that you pray for the bishop and all those who support him in his ministry as shepherd and teacher.
In June 2005, then-Pope Benedict asked the faithful to gain the ability to say the four basic prayers of the Catholic faith in their native tongue and in Latin. With an eye toward fulfilling that reasonable request, here are those prayers in both language.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
La Señal de la Cruz
En el nombre del Padre, del hijo, y del Espiritu Santo. Amen.
In nòmine Patris, et Fìlii, et Spìritus Sancti. Amen (Pronounced: Een noh-me-nay Pah-trees eht fill-ee-e, et Spear-e-tu Sanc-tee)
The 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.
Padre Nuestro
Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo. Santificado sea tu nombre. Venga tu reino. Hágase tu voluntad en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en tentación y líbranos del mal. Amén.
Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
To see how to pronounce the "Our Father" in Latin, go here. It's the same "Our Father" we traditionally sing in Church, only in Latin/Gregorian chant. You'll probably recognize it right away.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art 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.
Ave María
Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia. El Señor es contigo, bendita tu eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén.
Avé María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus.
Sáncta María, Máter Déi, óra pro nóbis peccatóribus, nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Amen.
To see how to pronounce the "Ave Maria" in Latin, see this ethereal version of the one by Gounod (pro. "Goo-know").
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.
La Doxología
Gloria al Padre Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo.
Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
To see how to pronounce the Gloria Patri in Latin, please see here.
Various prayers to pray upon rising
O God, thank You for having brought me through this night, and thank You for having made me a Catholic.
Short, ejaculatory prayers
O sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love You more and more.
Sweetest Jesus, grant me an increase of faith, hope, and charity, a contrite and humble heart.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come!
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners (especially me), save the dying, deliver the holy souls from purgatory.
Morning Offering
O my 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 said this day throughout the world, in thanksgiving for Your favors, 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.
A resolve to avoid sin and to practice virtue
Adorable Jesus, my Savior and master, model of all perfection, I resolve and will endeavor this day to imitate Your example; to be, like You, mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable, and resigned. I will redouble my efforts that I may not fall this day into any of those sins that I have previously committed (here name any habitual or persistent sin), and which I sincerely desire to forsake. I have the intention to gain all the indulgences I can in favor of the poor souls in purgatory.
A prayer that God would give us the necessary graces
O my God, You know my poverty and weakness, and that I am unable to do anything good without You; deny me not, O God, the help of Your grace; proportion it to my necessitities, give me strength to avoid anything evil which You forbid, and to practice the good You command, and enable me to bear patiently all the trials wich it may please You to either send or allow me. Amen.
Act of Faith (form for the US; Ireland and the UK each have slightly different forms)
O my God, I firmly believe You are one God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe Your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths the holy Catholic Church teaches, because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
Act of Hope (form for the US; Ireland and the UK each have slightly different forms)
O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
Act of Charity
O my God, I love You above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because You are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of You. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Prayer before a day's work
Direct, we beg You, O Lord, our actions by Your holy inspirations, and grant that we may carry them out with Your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with You and through You be happily ended. Amen.
Acceptance of God's Will
In all things may the most holy, the most just, the most lovable will of God be done, praised, and exalted above all for ever. Your will be done, O Lord, Your will be done. The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away: Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
Prayer to keep the presence of God throughout the day
Lord, God Almighty, You have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by Your might power, so that we may not fall into any sin and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to always be just in Your sight. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Morning Offerings to Our Lady
Holy Virgin, mother of God, my mother and patroness, I lace my self under your maternal protection, I throw myself with confidence into the arms of your compassion. Be to me, O mother of Mercy Himself, my refuge in distress, my consolation under suffering, my advocate with your adorable Son, now and at the hour of my death.
My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and in proof of my affections, I give you my eyes, my ears, my tongue, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Since I am your own, keep me and guard me as your property and possession.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear ans answer me.
Prayer to one's name saint and/or confirmation saint
O great saint whose name I bear, protect me, pray for me, that like you I may serve God faithfully on earth and glorify Him eternally with you in heaven. Amen.
Prayer to one's Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Prayer for God's mercy at the time of death
My Lord God, even now resigned and willing, I accept at Your hand, with all its anxieties, pains, and sufferings, whatever kind of death it shall please You to be mine.
Prayer for the Divine Assistance and for Souls
P. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
A. And may the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen.
P. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
A. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
Prayer for those who will die this day
May the souls of those who will die this day or over the next night (alt.: this night or over the next day) be granted the gift of final perseverance. Amen.
Psalm 95
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
Invitatory for the Morning Office: A Call to Worship and Obedience
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it;
for his hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would hearken to his voice!
Harden not your hearts, as at Mer′ibah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your fathers tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who err in heart,
and they do not regard my ways.”
Therefore I swore in my anger
that they should not enter my rest.
Blessed Monaldo of Koper, Slovenia
O Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior, You who enriched the soul of Your faithful servant Bl. Monaldo with the treasures of Your grace and Who deigned to seal his religious virtues with the gift of miracles, hear the prayer we address to You, confident of his intercession.
Increase our faith, hope and charity because we love You above all things and our neighbor for Your sake. Protect particularly his devotees who venerate him in his native city of Koper and in all places where they are scattered; preserve in them the Christian virtues they inherited from their fathers. Grant also the graces we need. We ask You, O Savior Divine, and we confidently look forward to the merits and the intercession of Your faithful servant Bl. Monaldo. Amen.
St. John of God
St. John of God, patron of the handicapped and compassionate father of all those who suffer or are in distress, I confidently turn to you in my time of need. I pray thee to intercede for me with Jesus Whom you followed so faithfully in His healing apostolate.
Knowing only Jesus can provide the true answer to my call for help and confident in His promise that if I but ask, it will be give unto me, I now invoke your intercession in pleading for my intentions.
All glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. John of God, pray for me.
St. Auxentius of Bithynia
O dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body! You were a wonder-worker, O our God-bearing Father Auxentius! In asceticism you found your paradise and mastered your body’s passions, O holy Auxentius. You grew stronger in the faith and blossomed as a flower in the midst of the garden.
You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer, healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength! Glory to Him who granted you a crown! Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
St. Vitus and Agricola
Bless You and thank You, Father for the gift of martyrdom of our brothers Agricola and Vitus. Their fruitful blood did sprout for You the Church of Bologna, and in the fraternal solidarity between servant and master, You have given us a shining example of how humanity has been reconciled to You through the love of Christ. Through the example of their solidarity and their intercession, grant that we may likewise be courageous witnesses of the Faith, living stones of Your Church, and agents of communion and peace. We ask this of You, Father, in the Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen.
Prayer for the beatification of Lodovico Coccapani
Lord, Holy Father, you willed that Louis Coccapani be an apostle of charity, generously spending his entire life in service to the neediest of our brothers. Teach us to follow his example and give with joy, bperché è solo donando che si riceveecause it is only in giving that we receive and in loving that we have the love that comes from Your infinite goodness. In our difficult times, let Your servant, a candidate for the glory of the altars, continue to stand for us as an example of a hard-working and courageous faith. Let Your glory be manifested in him as a faithful instrument for the gospel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.
[Mention your request here]
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
María, la que Desata los Nudos
Santa María desatadora de nudos Santa María, llena de la presencia de Dios, durante los días de tu vida aceptaste con toda humildad la voluntad del Padre, y el Maligno nunca fue capaz de enredarte con sus confusiones. Ya junto a tu Hijo intercediste por nuestras dificultades y, con toda sencillez y paciencia, nos diste ejemplo de cómo desenredar la madeja de nuestras vidas. Y al quedarte para siempre como Madre Nuestra, pones en orden y haces mas claros los lazos que nos unen al Señor.
Santa María, Madre de Dios y Madre Nuestra, Tú que con corazón materno desatas los nudos que entorpecen nuestra vida, te pedimos que nos recibas en tus manos y que nos libres de las ataduras y confusiones con que nos hostiga el que es nuestro enemigo. Por tu gracia, por tu intercesión, con tu ejemplo, líbranos de todo mal, Señora Nuestra y desata los nudos, que impiden nos unamos a Dios, para que libres de toda confusión y error, los hallemos en todas las cosas, tengamos en El puestos nuestros corazones y podamos servirle siempre en nuestros hermanos. Amén