Basic Catholic Prayers
The basic Catholic prayers every believer learns first are the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and the Apostles' Creed. At Find A Prayer, we gather these prayers so you have the foundational texts ready in one place for daily devotion, family prayer, and parish life. These five traditional texts form the bedrock of Catholic devotional rhythm, guiding morning offerings, mealtime blessings, evening examinations of conscience, and the Holy Rosary.
Each of these prayers holds a specific place in Catholic worship and doctrine. The Sign of the Cross marks the opening and closing of every Catholic prayer, dedicating body and mind to the Holy Trinity. The Our Father gives us the words taught directly by Jesus Christ to His disciples.
The Hail Mary combines the scriptural greetings of the Archangel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth with a petition asking the Blessed Mother for her prayers. The Glory Be offers unceasing praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Apostles' Creed summarizes the core truths of the Christian faith professed from the earliest days of the Church.
Whether you are returning to your faith, preparing for reception into the Church, or teaching your children their daily prayers, having these exact words at hand brings peace and confidence. You can read, memorize, or pray these five traditional texts quietly at home or in parish community.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art 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.
The 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.
Scripture to pray
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.— Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.— Luke 1:28 (KJV)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:— Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic prayers every Catholic should know?
The five foundational prayers every Catholic learns first are the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and the Apostles' Creed. These prayers form the core of personal daily devotions, family morning and night prayers, and larger liturgical practices such as the Holy Rosary. Catholics memorize them early in childhood or during preparation to enter the Church.
What is the Apostles' Creed and how is it different from the Nicene Creed?
The Apostles' Creed is a traditional summary of Christian belief used at baptism-related rites and at the beginning of the Rosary. The Nicene Creed is the longer profession of faith professed by the congregation at Sunday Mass. Both creeds proclaim the central mysteries of the Holy Trinity, the incarnation of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, and the life of the holy catholic Church.
Why does the Catholic Our Father end at 'deliver us from evil'?
In the Catholic Mass, the Lord's Prayer concludes directly with the petition 'deliver us from evil. Amen.' The doxology 'For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory' is prayed separately by the congregation after the priest recites an intermediate prayer known as the embolism. Protestant services traditionally append this closing doxology directly onto the Lord's Prayer.
Which of these prayers are in the Rosary?
All five of these basic prayers are used to pray the Holy Rosary. The Rosary opens with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys, and one Glory Be on the introductory beads. After that, each decade consists of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be.
Is the Hail Mary in the Bible?
The opening half of the Hail Mary comes directly from Scripture. The words 'Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women' echo the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel in Luke 1:28. The phrase 'blessed is the fruit of thy womb' reflects Elizabeth's greeting to Mary in Luke 1:42. The second half of the prayer asks the Mother of God to intercede for sinners.
What order do I pray them in?
A common traditional order begins with the Sign of the Cross, moves to the profession of faith in the Apostles' Creed, continues with the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) and the Hail Mary, and concludes with the doxology of the Glory Be. You can also pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be together as a simple morning or evening prayer.
Can children learn these basic Catholic prayers easily?
Yes, children can learn these prayers by reciting them line by line with parents or teachers during regular family prayer times. Beginning with the Sign of the Cross and short prayers like the Glory Be helps young children build confidence before advancing to the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed.