The Catholic's pocket prayer-book/Morning Prayers
MORNING PRAYERS.
At awakening in the morning, say:
O my God, my only good, the author of my being and my last end, I give Thee my heart. Praise, honor, and glory be to Thee for ever and ever. Amen.
At rising up, say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
I will raise myself up from this bed of sleep, to adore my God, and to labor for the salvation of my soul. O may I rise on the last day unto life everlasting.
When clothed, kneel down and say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever more. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! The earth is full of Thy Glory. Glory be to the Father: Glory be to the Son: Glory be to the Holy Ghost.
AN ACT OF ADORATION.
O great God, the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, I prostrate myself before Thee. With all the angels and saints I adore Thee. I acknowledge Thee to be my Creator and Sovereign Lord, my first beginning and last end. I render to Thee the homage of my being and life. I submit myself to Thy holy will; and I devote myself to Thy divine service this day and forever. I wish and purpose to gain to-day all the indulgences which it is possible for me to gain.
MORNING OFFERING TO THE SACRED HEART.
O Lord Jesus-Christ, in union with that divine intention with which Thou, whilst on earth, didst give praise to God through Thy most sacred Heart, and still dost continue to give praise to Him in the Sacrament of the Eucharist everywhere, even unto the consummation of the world, I, wishing to imitate the most sacred Heart of the ever immaculate Virgin Mary, most willingly, offer to Thee during this whole day, not excepting the smallest part therefrom, all my intentions and thoughts, all my affections and desires, all my words and actions.
AN ACT OF FAITH.
O my God! I firmly believe all the sacred truths which Thy holy Catholic Church believes and teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, who neither canst deceive nor be deceived.
AN ACT OF HOPE.
O my God! relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain the pardon of my sins, the assistance of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus-Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
AN ACT OF CHARITY.
O my God, I love Thee above all things with my whole heart and soul, purely because Thou art infinitely perfect and deserving of all love. I love also my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING.
O glorious Trinity! I praise Thee and give Thee thanks for the numberless benefits Thou hast bestowed upon me. I thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, for having created me to Thy own image and likeness, and for having preserved me to this day. I thank Thee, O merciful Son, for having redeemed me by Thy death, and so often fed me with Thy precious body and blood. I thank Thee, O Holy Spirit, for having cleansed my soul by Thy grace in holy baptism, for having called me to the true faith, and so often washed me from my sins in the sacrament of penace. I thank Thee, O most bountiful God, for preserving me this night, and granting me this day to serve Thee. I earnestly invite all the saints of heaven and earth to join with me in praise and thanksgiving for Thy infinite goodness.
Pause a while, and foresee the sins you are most subject to, and firmly resolve to avoid them.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offended Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
Make a firm resolution to avoid evil, and to do good.
Adorable Jesus! Divine model of that perfection to which we should all aspire! I will endeavor this day to follow Thy example; to be mild, humble, chaste, zealous, patient, charitable and resigned. Incline my heart to keep Thy commandments. I am resolved to watch over myself with the greatest diligence, and to live soberly, justly and piously for the time to come. I will take care of my ways, that I may not offend with my tongue. I will turn away my eyes, that they may not see vanity, and I will be particularly attentive not to relapse this day into my accustomed failings, but to struggle against them with Thy gracious assistance. Enlighten my mind, purify my heart and guide my steps, that I may pass all my life in Thy Divine Service. Amen.
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 them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
THE ANGELIC SALUTATION.
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.
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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell, the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
May the Almighty God have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord give me pardon, absolution, and remission of all my sins. Amen.
Invoke the Blessed Virgin, your Angel Guardian, and your Patron Saint.
O holy Virgin, Mother of God, my advocate and patroness, pray for thy poor servant; show thyself a mother to me; and Thou, O blessed Spirit, whom God in His mercy hath appointed to watch over me, intercede for me this day, that I may not stray from the path of virtue. Thou also, O happy Saint, whose name I bear, pray for me, that I may serve God faithfully in this life, as thou hast done, and glorify Him eternally with thee in heaven. Amen.
THE ANGELUS DOMINI.
To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of the adorable mystery of the Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour.
1. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary; and she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, etc.
2. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary, etc.
3. And the word was made flesh; and dwelt among us. Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.