Prayer Reference
the Sign of the Cross
English
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- With your right hand, touch your forehead and pray, “In the Name of the Father”
- Touch the center of your chest and pray “And of the Son”
- Touch your left shoulder and pray “And of the Holy”
- Touch your right shoulder and pray, “Spirit”
- Put your hands together and pray “Amen.”
Latin (signum crucis)
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.
- With your right hand, touch your forehead and pray, “In nómine Patris”
- Touch the center of your chest and pray “et Fílii”
- Touch your left shoulder and pray “et Spíritus”
- Touch your right shoulder and pray, “Sancti”
- Put your hands together and pray “Amen.”
A Little History of the Sign
The sign of the cross, or signum crucis in Latin, is a ritual blessing used by some branches of Christianity that dates back to early Christianity.
The Catholic Church considers the sign of the cross a sacramental.
The sign is used to bless oneself, others, or objects, and is often performed in Christian liturgies, during times of need or danger, or at the beginning and end of prayer.
Making the sign of the cross, or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by Catholics and many other Christians.
The use of the sign of the cross traces back to early Christianity, with the third-century treatise Apostolic Tradition directing that it be used during the minor exorcism of baptism, and in times of temptation.
The movement is the tracing of the shape of a cross in the air or on one’s own body, echoing the traditional shape of the cross of the crucifixion of Jesus.
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.
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.
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.
Hail, Holy Queen
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.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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.
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 occasion of sin. Amen.
(A traditional version)
or:
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 offend Thee, my God, Who are 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. Amen.
(A traditional version)
Act of Contrition
(From the Rite of Penance)
My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.
or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
(from the Rite of Penance)