Our Traditional Catholic Prayers
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There was a time, within living memory, when Catholic children learnt many of our most beautiful prayers ‘by heart', often through repeatedly reciting them both at school and at home. Their daily lives embraced a wholesome Catholic education and a prayerful Catholic family upbringing. These memorised passages, words of hymns and, of course, pictures provided 'points of departure', so to speak, for a deeper penetration and understanding of the Mysteries of our Faith, as one matured.
The old (and still available), 'Penny Catechism' was typically succinct in its definition and explanation of Prayer: #141. What is prayer? Prayer is the raising up of the heart and mind to God. #142. How do we raise up our mind and heart to God? We raise up our mind and heart to God by thinking of God; by adoring, praising and thanking him; and by begging him all blessings for soul and body. The ‘Penny Catechism’ provided, and happily still provides, a basic 'platform' from which to explore (and, so, understand more deeply) the Truths of the Faith. |
Praying Hands (Albrecht Dürer c.1508)
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How many of us are still able to recite the short Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity, the simple Act of Contrition, or even Grace before and after meals, without a second thought?
Whilst the prayers most commonly said at Mass are still generally easily recited, there are so many others that demand to be retained as a sure way of assisting us in our devotions, private or public. We have put together three pages of familiar, and once-familiar, prayers, and hope you will come to find them helpful.
Whilst the prayers most commonly said at Mass are still generally easily recited, there are so many others that demand to be retained as a sure way of assisting us in our devotions, private or public. We have put together three pages of familiar, and once-familiar, prayers, and hope you will come to find them helpful.
