Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Christian Prayer and Practice 

1. The Sign of the Cross
2. The Lord's Prayer
3. Hail Mary
4. Glory
5. The Angelus
6. Regina Coeli
7. The Apostles' Creed
8. An Act of Faith
9. An Act of Hope
10. An Act of Love
11. An Act of Contrition
12. Morning Offering
13. Prayer Before Meals
14. Prayer After Meals
15. Prayer Before a Crucifix
16. Hail, Holy Queen
17. Memorare
18. How to Say the Rosary
19. The Mysteries of the Rosary
20. Angel of God
21. Eternal Rest

1. The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Lord's 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.

3. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

4. Glory
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

5. The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary...

And the Word became flesh.
And lived 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-O Lord, it was through the message of an angel that we learned of the Incarnation of your Son Christ. Pour your grace into our hearts, and by his passion and cross bring us to the glory of his resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Glory to the Father...

6. Regina Coeli
Said during the Easter Season instead of the Angelus.

Queen of heaven, rejoice, Alleluia.
For he whom you deserved 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. Because our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, you have made glad the whole world. Grant, we pray, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

7. The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he arose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

8. An Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.

9. An Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

10. An Act of Love
O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

11. An Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

12. Morning Offering
Divine Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in reparation for sins, and for the salvation of all men and women, according to the special intentions of the Pope, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of the heavenly Father. Amen.

13. Prayer Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

14. Prayer After Meals
We give you thanks for all your benefits, O loving God, you who live and reign forever. Amen.

15. Prayer Before a Crucifix
Behold, my beloved and good Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech you to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and contemplate your five most precious wounds, having before my eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke about you, my Jesus:

"They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones" (Ps 22:17-18).

16. Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

17. Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you I come; before you I kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.

18. How to Say the Rosary
The complete rosary consists of fifteen decades, traditionally divided into three distinct parts, each containing five decades: the joyful mysteries, which are ordinarily recited on Mondays and Thursdays; the sorrowful mysteries, which are said on Tuesdays and Fridays; the glorious mysteries, usually recited on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

To pray the rosary as the blend of contemplative and vocal prayer that it is meant to be, it is recommended to meditate on the individual mysteries while reciting the prayers. In this way, the rosary will bring us closer to Jesus and Mary, and help us grow in our Christian life.

We begin the rosary by blessing ourselves with the crucifix. Then we may recite the Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Mary's and one Glory on the small chain. Then we pray one Our Father, ten Hail Mary's and one Glory. This completes one decade, and all the other decades are recited in the same manner with a different mystery meditated during each decade. At the end of the rosary, the Hail Holy Queen and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin may be recited.

19.  The Mysteries of the Rosary

1. The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
2. Mary Visits Her Cousin Elizabeth
3. The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. Jesus Is Scourged at the Pillar
3. Jesus Is Crowned with Thorns
4. Jesus Carries the Cross to Calvary
5. Jesus Dies for Our Sins

Glorious Mysteries

1. Jesus Rises from the Dead
2. Jesus Ascends into Heaven
3. The Holy Spirit Descends on the Apostles and Disciples in the Upper Room
4. Mary Is Assumed into Heaven
5. Mary Is Crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth

20. Angel of God
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love entrusts me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

21. Eternal Rest
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

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