The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of prayer, from the Mass to the Rosary to devotions to the saints. But with such an expansive treasury, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and not know where to start.
The four Catholic saint prayers below are from holy heroes of the Church, and most of them can be prayed in just one or two minutes. Glean from their examples of faith by incorporating any (or all) of these prayers into your spiritual practice!
A prayer to increase in desire and hunger for God, especially in the reception of the Holy Eucharist
St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan, Cardinal, and Doctor of the Church, was born in Italy in 1221. Bonaventure was well known for his teaching, writing, preaching, good character, and ability to help those in conflict reconcile. He was also great friends with St. Thomas Aquinas.
Even with his great intelligence, St. Bonaventure emphasized grace over reason to help himself and others in relationship with God. He had a great love for the Eucharist, which is captured in these words which he wrote as a prayer for after receiving communion.
Pray this powerful prayer on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
A prayer invoking this saint’s intercession for healing and faithfulness to Christ and his Church
St. Kateri Tekakwitha was a Mohawk woman who converted to Catholicism at age 19. She loved Jesus Christ with great devotion, and she fervently prayed for the conversion of her fellow Mohawks. St. Kateri died of an illness at age 24, and she was canonized in 2012, making her the first Native American to be recognized as a saint.
Pray along on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
A prayer invoking Christ’s daily strength and protection against evil
St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a prayer attributed to Saint Patrick of Ireland, circa AD 433. This prayer is both a profession of the faith and an invocation for divine protection from evil, as St. Patrick was preaching the Gospel to a nation that was pagan at the time. Poetically written, the prayer reads like a litany, ending with the well-known “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me… Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
Pray the entire prayer on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
A prayer asking for this saint’s intercession as well as greater confidence in God’s love
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, often called “the Little Flower,” promised to spend her time in heaven doing good on earth. Though she lived a hidden life, after her death the 24-year-old French Carmelite became a Doctor of the Church and a beloved friend and intercessor for countless Catholics. It is often said that she sends down “showers of roses” to those who ask for her intercession.
Pray along on CatholicTV or on YouTube.
If you want to grow in your devotion to the saints, try praying one or all of these prayers, and continue praying whichever most resonates with you. You can find these and other powerful prayers on CatholicTV or on our YouTube channel. Most take only a few minutes to pray, so choose one and start deepening your prayer life today!
Your gift helps CatholicTV deliver the Good News into millions of homes across the nation. We need your support to continue connecting people with Christ and the Church.
