Catholic Church

Prayer & Devotions During COVID-19

Sunday: THE MOST HOLY TRINITY 

Monday: THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY 

Tuesday: OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL 

Wednesday: ST. JOSEPH 

Thursday: THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST 

Friday: THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD. 

Saturday: THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 

In these very strange times, it is incumbent upon us as the domestic church to keep our faith alive within our families.  Since we do not have the opportunity to attend Mass, we must remember the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each day and commit ourselves to celebrate a spiritual communion within our family unit.   The church designates a theme for Mass each day. 

As a family read the readings for the day, these can be found at: www.usccb.org . 

Spend some time each day as a family in prayer and focus on the readings and the theme of the day. This will help us remain close to God and gain strength from the grace we receive. 

On Sunday – find a Mass on television and attend as a family.  Dedicate your day to The Holy Trinity 

The dogma of the Holy Trinity Catechism of the Catholic Church 

253 The Trinity is One. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons, the "consubstantial Trinity".83 The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire: "The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, the Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e. by nature one God."84 In the words of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), "Each of the persons is that supreme reality, viz., the divine substance, essence or nature."85 

254 The divine persons are really distinct from one another. "God is one but not solitary."86 "Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: "He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son."87 They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: "It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds."88 The divine Unity is Triune. 

255 The divine persons are relative to one another. Because it does not divide the divine unity, the real distinction of the persons from one another resides solely in the relationships which relate them to one another: "In the relational names of the persons the Father is related to the Son, the Son to the Father, and the Holy Spirit to both. While they are called three persons in view of their relations, we believe in one nature or substance."89 Indeed "everything (in them) is one where there is no opposition of relationship."90 "Because of that unity the Father is wholly in the Son and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Son is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is wholly in the Father and wholly in the Son."91 

Prayer to the Holy Trinity 

Glory be to the Father, 
Who by His almighty power and love created me, 
making me in the image and likeness of God. 
 
Glory be to the Son, 
Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell, 
and opened for me the gates of heaven. 
 
Glory be to the Holy Spirit, 
Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism, 
and continues to sanctify me 
by the graces I receive daily from His bounty. 
 
Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity, 
now and forever. 
 
Amen. 

 

Monday  is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory.  On Monday read the readings for the day and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Souls in Purgatory  

CCC 1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.  

  Divine Mercy Chaplet                                         

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

  1. Opening Prayers

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.  
 
(Repeat three times)  
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! 

  1. 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. 

  1. 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. 

  1. The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come 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. 

  1. The Eternal Father

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. 

  1. On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. 

  1. Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads. 

  1. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. 

  1. Optional Closing Prayer

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.  

 

Tuesday is dedicated to The Holy Angels or The Guardian Angels.   Begin with the Readings for the day and then dedicate your day to the Angels 

CCC 336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202 "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."203 Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God. 

Guardian Angel Prayer

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

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel 

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls.  

 

Wednesday is dedicated to Saint Joseph.  Begin your prayer with the readings for the day and then dedicate your day to Saint Joseph. 

Saint Joseph was a just man who was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage. He is an example to all of complete love and trust in God.   

Prayer To Saint Joseph For The Whole Church 

O Glorious Saint Joseph, 
you were chosen by God 
to be the foster father of Jesus, 
the most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, 
and the head of the Holy Family. 
You have been chosen by Christ's Vicar 
as the heavenly Patron and Protector 
of the Church founded by Christ. 
 
Protect the Sovereign Pontiff 
and all bishops and priests united with him. 
Be the protector of all who labour for souls 
amid the trials and tribulations of this life; 
and grant that all peoples of the world 
may be docile to the Church 
without which there is no salvation. 
 
Dear Saint Joseph, 
accept the offering I make to you. 
Be my father, protector, 
and guide in the way of salvation. 
Obtain for me purity of heart 
and a love for the spiritual life. 
After your example, 
let all my actions be directed 
to the greater glory of God, 
in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus, 
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 
and your own paternal heart. 
Finally, pray for me that I may share  

in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen 

 

Thursday is dedicated to The Most Holy Eucharist.  Begin with the readings for the day.  Spend your day dedicated to Our Lord and His presence in your life. 

CCC- THE EUCHARIST - SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE 

1324 The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."137 

1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."138 

1326 Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.139 

1327 In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking. 

 
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 your wounds conceal me. 
Do not permit me to be parted from you. 
From the evil foe protect me. 
At the hour of my death call me. 
And bid me come to you, 
to praise you with all your saints 
for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

 

Friday is dedicated to the Passion of Jesus. Begin by reading the readings of the day.  Then pray the Stations of the Cross.  

The Stations of the Cross is a devotion in which we meditate upon the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. In the Stations, we focus on the fact that Jesus freely suffered and died out of infinite love for us and for all of mankind. We remember with gratitude that it is through His complete offering of Himself to the Father that it becomes possible for us to enter into the unending joy of heaven. Finally, while the Stations are a meditation on our Lord’s Passion and Death, we remember that death does not have the final word, but rather that it leads to Resurrection – His and our own.  

GO to : www.usccb.org  for ways to pray the Stations. 

Also GO HERE FOR CHILDREN’S STATIONS OF THE CROSS

 

Saturday is devoted to Our Lady.  Begin with the daily readings and Pray the Rosary as a family. Devote your day to Our Lady. For a scriptural meditation of the Mysteries of the Rosary go to : www.usccb.org  

How to Pray the Rosary 

On the 5 decades (sets of 10 beads) of a rosary, we pray and meditate on the corresponding set of 5 Mysteries from the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries, or the Luminous Mysteries

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles Creed."
  2. Say the "Our Father."
  3. Say three "Hail Marys."
  4. Say the "Glory be to the Father."
  5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
  6. Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
  7. Say the "Glory be to the Father." After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."
  8. Announce the Second Mystery: then say the "Our Father." Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.
  9. Say the 'Hail, Holy Queen' on the medal after the five decades are completed.

Prayers of the Rosary   

The Apostles' Creed 

I believe in God, 
the Father almighty, 
Creator of heaven and earth, 
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary, 
suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died and was buried; 
he descended into hell; 
on the third day he rose again from the dead; 
he ascended into heaven, 
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; 
from there he will come 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. 

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 

The 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 

The Glory Be (The Doxology) 

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; 
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, 
world without end. 
Amen. 

The Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina) 

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.  

Joyful Mystery of the Rosary 

Monday & Saturday 

Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary 

Tuesday & Friday 

Glorious Mystery of the Rosary 

Wednesday & Sunday 

Luminous Mystery of the Rosary 

Thursday