Praying in the morning is a way of offering God the first moments of your day and remembering that his presence goes with you in all that you do. Whether you pray before getting out of bed, with a cup of coffee in your favorite chair, or while on a short walk, you’ll enjoy the spiritual fruits that come from making morning prayer a regular practice.
Not sure what to pray? Keep reading for Catholic morning prayers to start your day with God.
The Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours, is the universal prayer of the Catholic Church. The Office is prayed by priests and religious worldwide every day, and it’s becoming increasingly popular among the laity as well.
The Office is beloved for many reasons, including:
There are four “hours,” or designated times of the day to pray, beginning with Morning Prayer (also known as Lauds). This hour includes:
This first hour of the day only takes 15–20 minutes to pray, making it easy to fit into most morning routines.
There are many ways to pray Morning Prayer:
When you pray Morning Prayer on CatholicTV, you’re praying along with Bishop Reed and other viewers around the world. The text of the prayer is displayed on the screen so you can follow along—no breviary or app required! Join us daily at 9am ET (for Evening and Night Prayer, tune in at 7:30pm ET and 11pm ET).
When you want to expand or change up your prayer routine, try one or more of these powerful prayers.
A Morning Offering is a brief but powerful prayer in which you offer your entire day to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This prayer is a wonderful addition to Morning Prayer (or prayed by itself when you’re short on time).
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.
Outside of the Mass, the Rosary is perhaps the most well-known and beloved prayer of the Catholic faith. The Rosary’s meditative quality makes it ideal for quiet mornings, but it can also be prayed at any time of the day (or night).
A different set of mysteries of the Rosary is prayed each day:
The Rosary takes about 20–25 minutes to pray, but on the mornings when you’re in a hurry, you can pray a single decade (and perhaps finish the Rosary later in the day).
Another wonderful addition to your morning prayer routine is praying to the saints. This practice both strengthens your prayer life and helps you get to know these holy men and women who can inspire your faith. Many saint prayers only take a few minutes to pray, making them easy to pray in the morning or whenever you have a moment throughout the day. And don’t forget to ask for their prayers while you’re at it!
If you’re a visual learner and would appreciate something to look at during prayer, visio divina is perfect for you. This prayer practice blends sacred art, Scripture reflection, and quiet, meditative prayer. Visio divina takes around 20 minutes to pray, but if you have the time, you can certainly pray longer and go deeper into your meditation.
Catholic morning prayer can take many different forms. With the rich treasury of prayers the Church offers, it’s easy to find a prayer routine that fits your schedule and preferences. If you’re not sure where to start, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, then simply begin. You’re also welcome to tune in to CatholicTV anytime and let us pray with you—the doors of our digital parish are always open!
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