Basic Prayers
These are familiar prayers from Christian tradition, together with a few simple prayers written for this website. You may pray them as written or use them to help you speak to God in your own words.
Christian traditions sometimes use slightly different words for familiar prayers. The central meaning remains the same.
Traditional prayers
This is the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
"Hallowed" means holy, honoured and treated with reverence.
This prayer asks Mary, the mother of Jesus, to pray for us.
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 Apostles’ Creed brings together the central beliefs Christians have shared for many centuries.
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 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 rose again.
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.
Here "catholic" means the whole or universal Church, not only the Roman Catholic Church. "Communion of saints" means the shared fellowship of God's people. "Descended to the dead" speaks of Christ truly entering death.
A short prayer of praise to the Holy Trinity.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be for ever.
Amen.
Contrition means being truly sorry for our sins and wanting to turn back to God. This prayer asks for God’s forgiveness and help to live differently.
My God, I am sorry for my sins.
I have failed to love you and my neighbour as I should.
Trusting in your mercy, I ask your forgiveness.
Help me to turn away from sin, to make amends where I can,
and to follow Jesus with a sincere heart.
Amen.
A very short prayer that can be repeated slowly, especially when words are hard.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
A short prayer of thanks before eating.
Bless us, Lord, and bless this food.
Thank you for your goodness and for those who prepared it.
Help us to remember those who are hungry.
Amen.
Prayers written for this website
This prayer may help when you want to speak plainly to God about what has gone wrong.
Merciful God, I have sinned in what I have done and failed to do.
I am sorry.
Please forgive me, heal what is damaged,
and help me begin again with honesty and love.
Amen.
Use this prayer to notice and name God's gifts.
God of all goodness, thank you for this day.
Thank you for every gift I noticed, and every gift I missed.
Teach me to receive your love with gratitude
and to share it generously with others.
Amen.