Favorite Prayers and Quotes on Prayer

[mkim630]

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if anyone has any favorite prayers and/or quotes on prayer they’d be willing to share. I’m creating a journal for our high school youth retreat that is on prayer, and would like to include some prayers and quotes throughout the journal.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t successful finding a website with quotes on prayer from the saints!

Thanks and God bless,
Maria

 

[PhilotheaZ]

“To pray is to talk to God, but about what? About Him, about yourself; joys, sorrows, successes, and failures, noble ambitions, daily worries, weaknesses! And acts of thanksgiving and petitions: and Love and reparation. In a word: to get to know Him and to get to know yourself: to get acquainted.” (Saint Josemaria Escriva)

“Prayer gives us strength for great ideals, for keeping up our faith, charity, purity, generosity; prayer gives us strength to rise up from indifference and guilt, if we have had the misfortune to give in to temptation and weakness. Prayer gives us light by which to see and to judge from God’s perspective and from eternity. That is why you must not give up on praying!” (Pope John Paul II)

“For me prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance toward heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy.” (Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)

“A good and perfect prayer requires that we forget self, that we be ready to sacrifice all that we are for God.” (Saint Jane Frances de Chantal)

“He whose attitude towards Christ is correct does indeed ask ‘in His Name’ and receives what he asks for, if it is something which does not stand in the way of his salvation. He gets it, however, only when he ought to receive it, for certain things are not refused us, but their granting is delayed to a fitting time.” (Saint Augustine)

“Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” (Saint John Damascene)

“In a conversation there are always an ‘I’ and a ‘thou’ or ‘you.’ In this case … the ‘Thou’ is more important, because our prayer begins with God … We begin to pray, believing that it is our own initiative that compels us to do so. Instead, we learn that it is always God’s initiative within us …” (Pope John Paul II)

“By humble and faithful prayer, the soul acquires, with time and perseverance, every virtue.” (Saint Catherine of Siena)

“I am certain of it that Our Lord will eventually bring to the harbor of salvation, the one who gives himself to prayer.” (Saint Teresa of Avila)

“Remember that when we ask the Lord for something important, he may want to be asked for many years. Keep on! But keep on with ever increasing trust.” (Saint Josemaría Escrivá)

“Until you are convinced that prayer is the best use of your time, you will not find time for prayer.” (Father Hilary Ottensmeyer, OSB)

“How pleasing to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is the short quarter of an hour that we steal from our occupations, from something of no use, to come and pray to Him, to visit Him, to console Him.” (Saint John Vianney)

“How to pray? This is a simple matter. I would say: Pray any way you like, so long as you do pray.” (Pope John Paul II)

“Individual praying is like straw scattered over a field. If you set a straw alight, the flame is small. But if you gather up all the bits of straw the flame fills out, rising high up in the sky, and it’s the same with communal prayer.” (Saint John Vianney)

“Mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate friendship, a frequent heart-to-heart conversation with Him by whom we know ourselves to be loved.” (Saint Teresa of Avila)

“It is morally impossible for him who neglects meditation to live without sin.” (Saint Alphonsus)

“Without the aid of mental prayer, the soul cannot triumph over the forces of the demon.” (Saint John of the Cross)

“You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart; in fact on certain occasions you should speak to Him only with your heart” (Saint Pio of Pietrelcina)

“You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you’ve already begun.” (Saint Josemaría Escrivá)

 

[Benedict108]

Action is worthless without prayer; prayer is worth more with sacrifice. (The Way, 81, St. Josemaria Escriva)

Prayer is the foundation of the spiritual edifice. Prayer is all powerful. (The Way, 83, St. Josemaria Escriva)

One of my favorite prayers…(sorry it is a bit long) I recite this everyday as part of my morning prayers.

**A Universal Prayer for all Things Necessary to Salvation

*O My God, I believe in Thee; do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee; do Thou secure them. I love Thee with my whole heart: teach me to love Thee daily more and more. I am sorry that I have offended Thee; do Thou increase my sorrow.

I adore Thee as my first beginning. I aspire after Thee as my last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant benefactor. I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector.

Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by Thy wisdom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power.

To Thee I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of Thee, speak of Thee, willingly refer all my actions to Thy greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou shalt appoint.

Lord I desire that in all things Thy will may be done, because it is Thy will, and in the manner Thou willest.

I beg of Thee to enlighten my understanding, to inflame my will, to purify my body, and to sanctify my soul.

Give me strength, O my God, to expiate my offenses, to overcome my temptations, to subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper for my state.

Fill my heart with a tender affection for Thy goodness, a hatred for my faults, a love my neighbor, and contempt for the world.

Let me always remember to be submissive to my superiors, condescending to my inferiors, faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies.

Assist me to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by alms-deeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity be devotion.

O my God, make me prudent in my undertakings, courageous in dangers, patient in afflictions, and humble in prosperity.

Grant that I may ever be attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, diligent in my employments, and constant in my resolutions.

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my exterior modest, my conversation edifying and my comportment regular.

Assist me, that I may continually labour to overcome nature, to correspond with Thy grace, to keep Thy commandments, and to work out my salvation.

Discover to me, O my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the shortness of time, and the length of eternity.

Grant that I may prepare for death; that I may fear Thy judgements; that I may escape hell, and, in the end, obtain heaven, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.***

Taken from: Key Of Heaven. (1910)

 

[bbrownatl]

Maria,

What a great journal. These are some from the daily catholic meditation website, Silent Insight (www.silentinsight.com)

Some insight for both life in general and prayer.

“If we were meant to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.”

• Mark Twain

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The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful - James 5:16

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Jesus said to them in reply, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. - Mark 11:23-25

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“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” - Luke 11:5-13

Good luck with your journal.

Peace,
Brian

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Silent Insight - Daily Catholic Meditations for Faith, Listening and Peace (www.SilentInsight.com)

 

[mkim630]

Thank you all for sharing your favorite prayers, quotes, and verses on prayers! I like them all and am going to incorporate them into the journal! --Maria

 

[Benedict108]

Thank you all for sharing your favorite prayers, quotes, and verses on prayers! I like them all and am going to incorporate them into the journal! --Maria

Pax tecum.

 

[Eucharisted]

The most perfect prayer is the Our Father, and the next after that is the Hail Mary.

The greatest prayer is the Mass, but few wish to pray it.

Prayers, prayers, and prayers.

• For the Compendium of the Catechism, scroll down to the appendixes for the prayers
• The Divine Praises are prayers of reparation, so when you hear or see someone offend God or His Mother or her spouse or one of God’s servants, you pray the appropriate praise.

 

[LilyM]

Three of my favourite prayers (I like the traditional ones best)

The Memorare of St Bernard:

"Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen."

The Anima Christi, populiarised by St Ignatius Loyola:

"Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, 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 I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen "

---

Prayer to St Joseph (reputedly from 1st century)***

"O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong,
so prompt before the Throne of God,
I place in you all my interests and desires.

O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession
and obtain for me from your Divine Son
all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;
so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power
I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage
to the most Loving of Fathers.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you
and Jesus asleep in your arms.
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.
Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me,
and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls,
pray for us. Amen"

 

[mkim630]

Wow, I love the The Anima Christi, populiarised by St Ignatius Loyola. That’s beautiful. Thank you all, these are all awesome!

 

[LilyM]

Wow, I love the The Anima Christi, populiarised by St Ignatius Loyola. That’s beautiful. Thank you all, these are all awesome!

The prayer’s just called the Anima Christi. Glad you liked it.

 

[vince2paul]

might be too late, but just want to share.
My favorite is to repeat “Lord Jesus Christ, Have mercy on me, a sinner” over and over again, especially when I have difficulty concentrating. Somehow, it helps me to focus.

I learned this from Henri Nouwen’s book, apparently, it’s his favorite too,

 

[cbsindelar]

“To be Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” -St. Augustine

 

[Eucharisted]

Hope is prayer, prayer is hope.

 

[MarieVeronica]

I believe this is attributed to Blessed Mother Teresa. It isn’t really quote, regarding prayer… but more about the servant, doing God’s Will <which, in itself… can BE a prayer>; it goes like this…

“God doesn’t choose the qualified. He qualifies the chosen.”

When I heard this, I understood it to be an expression on the importance of humility. That’s the way it struck me, anyway.

 

[marigal]

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if anyone has any favorite prayers and/or quotes on prayer they’d be willing to share. I’m creating a journal for our high school youth retreat that is on prayer, and would like to include some prayers and quotes throughout the journal.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t successful finding a website with quotes on prayer from the saints!

Thanks and God bless,
Maria

“Pray with great confidence, with confidence based upon the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray.” +

-St. Louis de Montfort