Prayers

Catholics believe that prayer is a dialogue with God, a way to communicate with the divine. We believe that God is always present and listening and that prayer is a way to open up our hearts and minds to His love and guidance. Whatever form it takes, prayer is an essential part of Catholic life.

Prayers

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

Hail Mary

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Virgin Mary with baby Jesus

Blessed are 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.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, Glory of God Jesus

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 Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit,

fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.

And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful,

grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations,

Through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

The last supper
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.

2025 Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Prayer of Dedication

Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work. on duty

I give you my feet to go your way.

I give you my eyes to see as you do.

I give you my tongue to speak your words.

I give you my mind that you may think in me.

I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.

Above all I give you my heart that you may love in me, your father, and all of mankind.

I give you my whole self that you may grow in me,

so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me.

Amen.

Prayer for the Australian Defence Force

Lord our God, we thank you for the service and sacrifice of all who have made possible the freedom we enjoy and the heritage we have been given.

We commend to you all who now serve in the Defence Force of our nation.

Shelter them in danger, and in time of peace keep them from all evil.

For ourselves, we pray that you will help us to persevere in loyalty and courage,

and grant us to be worthy of those who have gone before us.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Navy

Eternal God, creator of the heavens and ruler of the raging seas, take under your powerful protection and bless all members of the Royal Australian Navy.

Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and air, and the violence of the enemy, and so strengthen us that we may faithfully serve our Sovereign and the people of the Commonwealth of Australia.

With the help of others who love freedom, may we be able to ensure security for all those who lawfully navigate the seven seas, and by our efforts maintain for people everywhere the possibility of serving you in peace and justice all through their lives.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Army

Army Flag

God our Father, protect and guide the men and women of the Australian Army in peace and war.

Give to those in positions of authority wisdom in their decisions and concern for those under their command.

Give to all of us an understanding of our responsibilities and the courage to fulfil them.

Father, make us proud of our country.

Give us success in preserving the peace we have enjoyed in the past, so that our descendants might enjoy Australia in the future.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Air Force

Father in heaven, we pray for all those who serve in the Royal Australian Air Force.

May they be courageous and skilful in overcoming difficulties and always be aware of your guiding hand and sustaining spirit.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Priests and Deacons

Father, you have appointed your Son Jesus Christ eternal High Priest.

Guide those he has chosen to be ministers of word and sacrament and help them to be faithful in fulfilling the ministry they have received.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Soldier’s Prayer

Almighty God, whose command is over all, and whose love never fails, let me be aware of your presence, and obedient to your will.

Help me to accept my share of responsibility with a strong heart and cheerful mind.

Make me considerate of those with whom I work, and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted to me.

Let my uniform remind me daily of the traditions of the Army in which I serve. When I am inclined to doubt, strengthen my faith.

When I am tempted to sin, help me to resist.

When I fail, give me the courage to try again.

Guide me with the light of your truth and keep before me the life and example of Jesus.

Amen.

A Commander’s Prayer

Father God, help me to find in myself the qualities of a good leader to be an inspiration to the people who depend on me.

Grant me your vision for the task that confronts us.

Help me to be brave and wise in my planning for conflict, respecting always the life of those who depend upon me and highly valuing the sacrifices that I choose for them to make.

Grant me determination and an agile mind in conflict and difficulty, decisiveness and good judgement as I see the task through.

Be a balm for my conscience as I do my best for my subordinates, country and you.

I make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Wounded

Father in heaven, grant our wounded brethren comfort in their suffering.

Give them courage when afraid, patience when afflicted, hope when dejected,

and when alone assure them of the prayerful support of your holy people.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer in Time of Sorrow

Sorrow and loss from war

God of all consolation, in your unending love and mercy for us, you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.

Show compassion to your people in sorrow.

Be our refuge and our strength to lift us from the darkness of this grief to peace and joy in your presence.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer in Time of Need

Heavenly Father, in my present need,

help me to believe that you are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me.

Give me the strength to trust you and put the present and future into your hands.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Prayer for Serenity

Lord, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.

Amen.

Prayer for the Diocese of the Australian Military Services for ourselves and our Nation

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts our love of Mary, Help of Christians.

Through her prayers and under her protection, may the light of Christ shine over our land.

May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.

Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.

Bless especially the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. Amen.

The Rosary - what is it purpose?

The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events in the history of our salvation. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five Joyful Mysteries (said on Monday and Saturday), the five Luminous Mysteries (said on Thursday), the five Sorrowful Mysteries (said on Tuesday and Friday), and the five Glorious Mysteries (said on Wednesday and Sunday). As an exception, the Joyful Mysteries may be said on Sundays during Advent and Christmas, while the Sorrowful Mysteries may be said on the Sundays of Lent.

The question is sometimes asked, why, of all the incidents in our Lord’s life, the Rosary only considers these particular twenty. The mysteries of the Rosary are based on the incidents in the life of Our Lord and His Mother that are celebrated in the Liturgy. There is a parallel between the main feasts honoring our Lord and his Mother in the liturgical year, and the twenty mysteries of the Rosary. Consequently, one who recites the twenty mysteries of the Rosary in one day reflects on the whole liturgical cycle that the Church commemorates during the course of each year. That is why some of the Popes have referred to the Rosary as a compendium of the Gospel. One cannot change the mysteries of the Rosary without losing the indulgences that the Church grants for the recitation of the Rosary.

How do I say the rosary?

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.

Saying the rosary

Make the Sign of the Cross.
Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
On the first bead, say an Our Father.
Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
Say the Glory Be
For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.
While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Mary's while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.
(After finishing each decade, some 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 who have most need of your mercy.)
After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen