These are the ones you use constantly, at Mass, in the Rosary, before meals, before bed. Learn these by heart first.

Sign of the Cross

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

The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)

Scripture: Matthew 6:9–13

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

Scripture: Luke 1:28, 1:42

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.

This prayer is really two Scripture verses joined together, then finished with a request. The first half is the angel Gabriel’s own words to Mary at the Annunciation, followed by Elizabeth’s greeting to her at the Visitation. The Church later added the second half, asking Mary to pray for us both now and at the moment of our death, the two times we need her intercession most.

Glory Be

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

Pray these when you feel spiritually under attack, before entering a place or situation that unsettles you, or as a regular part of guarding your day.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Scripture: Revelation 12:7–9, Jude 1:9

St. 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, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer

Scripture: Matthew 18:10, Psalm 91:11

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

These ask Mary’s intercession directly. Pray them any time, though several have a traditional time of day attached, noted below.

Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

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

The 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 by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The Angelus

Scripture: Luke 1:26–38, John 1:14

Traditionally prayed three times a day, morning, noon, and evening, at the sound of a bell.

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
(Hail Mary)
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
(Hail Mary)
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt 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: 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.

The Fatima Prayer

Traditionally added after each decade of the Rosary.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy. Amen.

The Rosary combines the prayers above into a meditation on Christ’s life. Pray it daily if you can, or whenever you want to slow down and sit with one of these moments longer than a single prayer allows.

It’s prayed in five decades at a time, each decade meditating on one “mystery,” a moment from the life of Christ or Our Lady. There are twenty mysteries in total, grouped into four sets. Traditionally, different sets are prayed on different days of the week.

How to Pray It, Bead by Bead

A Rosary has a Crucifix, then a short tail of beads leading into a loop of five sets of ten beads (called decades), each set marked off by a single larger bead. Here’s what to pray on each one, in order:

The Crucifix — Sign of the Cross, then the Apostles’ Creed.

The first bead after the Crucifix — One Our Father.

The next three beads — Three Hail Marys, traditionally one each for an increase of faith, hope, and love.

The next bead, just before the loop begins — One Glory Be. Then announce the First Mystery.

The large bead that begins each decade — One Our Father, right after announcing that decade’s mystery.

The ten small beads of that decade — Ten Hail Marys, said while holding that mystery in mind.

Right after the tenth bead, before the next large bead — One Glory Be, then (optionally) the Fatima Prayer.

Repeat those last three steps for all five decades, announcing the next mystery each time you reach a large bead.

After the fifth decade, back at the center — The Hail, Holy Queen. Some people add a closing prayer here too, but the Hail Holy Queen is the essential close.

Back at the Crucifix — Sign of the Cross to finish.

The Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)

1. The Annunciation — Luke 1:26–38. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary, and she freely says yes to bearing the Son of God.

2. The Visitation — Luke 1:39–45. Mary, carrying Christ within her, travels to help her cousin Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist.

3. The Nativity — Luke 2:1–14. Christ is born in Bethlehem in poverty, laid in a manger, and welcomed first by shepherds.

4. The Presentation in the Temple — Luke 2:22–38. Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple, where the elder Simeon recognizes him as the promised Messiah.

5. The Finding in the Temple — Luke 2:41–52. At twelve years old, Jesus goes missing for three days and is found teaching among the elders in the Temple.

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)

1. The Agony in the Garden — Luke 22:39–46. The night before his death, Jesus prays alone in Gethsemane, in such anguish that he sweats blood.

2. The Scourging at the Pillar — Matthew 27:26. Jesus is brutally whipped by Roman soldiers before his crucifixion.

3. The Crowning with Thorns — Matthew 27:27–31. Soldiers mock him as a false king, pressing a crown of thorns into his head.

4. The Carrying of the Cross — Luke 23:26–32. Jesus carries his own instrument of execution through Jerusalem to Calvary.

5. The Crucifixion — Luke 23:33–46. Jesus dies nailed to the cross, offering his life for the sins of the world.

The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)

1. The Resurrection — Matthew 28:1–10. On the third day, Christ rises from the dead, conquering sin and death itself.

2. The Ascension — Luke 24:50–53. Forty days after rising, Jesus ascends bodily into Heaven before his apostles.

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit — Acts 2:1–4. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, and they begin preaching boldly in public for the first time.

4. The Assumption of Mary. At the end of her earthly life, Mary is taken body and soul into Heaven.

5. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth, exalted above all creatures.

The Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)

1. The Baptism of Jesus — Matthew 3:13–17. Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan, and the Father’s voice declares him his beloved Son.

2. The Wedding at Cana — John 2:1–11. At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first public miracle, turning water into wine.

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom — Mark 1:15. Jesus begins his public ministry, calling people to repentance and announcing that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

4. The Transfiguration — Matthew 17:1–8. Jesus is transfigured in glory before Peter, James, and John, briefly revealing his divinity.

5. The Institution of the Eucharist — Matthew 26:26–28. At the Last Supper, Jesus gives his Body and Blood to the apostles under the appearance of bread and wine.

The Luminous Mysteries are the newest addition, given by St. John Paul II in 2002. The other three sets go back centuries.

Traditionally prayed before Confession, and good anytime you want to actively renew your faith, hope, love, and sorrow for sin in your own words.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

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. Amen.

Act of Hope

O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins, and after life here to gain eternal happiness, because you have promised it, who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful. Amen.

Act of Love (Charity)

O Lord God, I love you above all things, and I love my neighbor for your sake, because you are the highest, infinite, and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen.

Good for framing an ordinary day around God, the Morning Offering to start it, and Anima Christi especially in thanksgiving after receiving Communion.

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 Thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee. From the malicious enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me. And bid me come unto Thee, that with Thy saints I may praise Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. Amen.

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God. Blessed be His holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints.

Pray these anytime you want to intercede for someone who has died, especially near All Souls’ Day, at a funeral, or when visiting a grave.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.