Common Prayers

During the course of our Mass and other services there are some prayers we use often. It may help you to have the text of these prayers to hand.

Our Father / 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.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among 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.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Sign of Peace

At a point in the Mass the priest will say, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.“
To which the congregation reply, “And with your spirit.“
The priest replies, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.”

At this point it is customary to turn to each person around you and either shake their hand, or clasp your hands together in prayer towards them. You then say to the person, “Peace be with you”.

A reminder to “Love your neighbour as yourself” and to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” – the two most important commandments.

Penitential Act

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Invitation to Communion

The priest will say: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.“
Our reply: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.“

Concluding Rites

Priest: “The Lord be with you.“
People: “And with your spirit.“
Priest, one of either:
“Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
Go in peace
The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
People: “Thanks be to God.“

Stations of the Cross

On Good Friday we consider each of the Stations of the Cross, the key moments in the Passion of Christ, His suffering and death. The stations are:

  1. Jesus is condemned to death.
  2. Jesus is made to bear his cross.
  3. Jesus falls the first time.
  4. Jesus meets his mother.
  5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross.
  6. Veronica wipes Jesus’ face.
  7. Jesus falls the second time.
  8. The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus.
  9. Jesus falls the third time.
  10. Jesus is stripped of his garments.
  11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
  12. Jesus dies on the cross.
  13. Jesus is taken down from the cross.
  14. Jesus is placed in the sepulchre.

A common prayer to recite after each station is, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom“(Luke 23:42).