New to Catholic prayer, or helping someone who is? This page answers the questions people ask us most about how Catholics pray and worship: how to start praying, the five basic forms of prayer, whether Catholics pray to Jesus, to Mary and to the saints, who may receive Communion, what an extraordinary minister is, Catholic blessings and the Pope’s prayer intentions. Each answer is short and links to a fuller guide.
How do Catholics pray?
In every way the Bible and the Church’s tradition teach: with the words of the Church (the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Mass), with Scripture, in silence, and in their own words. The Catechism names five basic forms of prayer: “blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise” (CCC 2644).
- Blessing and adoration: acknowledging God’s greatness.
- Petition: asking for what we need, beginning with forgiveness.
- Intercession: praying for others, as in the Prayers of the Faithful.
- Thanksgiving: thanking God for his gifts, above all in the Eucharist.
- Praise: glorifying God simply because he is God.
How do I start praying as a Catholic?
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross (Sign of the Cross).
- Pray the basic prayers: the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
- Set a time each day: a morning offering on waking and night prayers before sleep.
- Talk to God in your own words about your day, your worries and your gratitude.
- Read a short passage of the Gospel and ask what God is saying to you.
- Go to Mass on Sunday, the heart of Catholic prayer. See the order of the Mass.
Do Catholics pray to Jesus?
Yes. Catholics pray to God the Father, to Jesus Christ, true God and true man, and to the Holy Spirit. Most liturgical prayers are addressed to the Father “through Jesus Christ, your Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,” and many Catholic devotions, such as the Sacred Heart and the Litany of the Holy Name, speak directly to Jesus.
Why do Catholics pray to Mary and the saints?
Catholics do not worship Mary or the saints. They ask them to pray for them, as we ask friends on earth to pray for us, because the saints are alive in Christ and united with us in the communion of saints. See prayers to the saints and the Memorare.
Can non-Catholics receive Communion at Mass?
Ordinarily, no. Holy Communion expresses full unity in faith with the Catholic Church, so the Church asks other Christians not to receive, while praying for the day of full unity (CCC 1398–1401). Members of the Orthodox Churches may receive in some circumstances, and in grave necessity, with the bishop’s judgment, other baptized Christians who share the Catholic faith in the Eucharist may receive (CCC 1401; Code of Canon Law, canon 844). Everyone is welcome at Mass, and many non-Catholics come forward with arms crossed to receive a blessing.
What is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion?
A lay person authorized to help distribute Holy Communion at Mass, or to bring it to the sick, when there are not enough priests and deacons. The ordinary ministers are bishops, priests and deacons; lay extraordinary ministers serve when the needs of the Church require it and ordinary ministers are lacking (Code of Canon Law, canon 230 §3).
What are Catholic blessings?
Blessings are sacramentals: prayers by which the Church asks God’s favor on people, places, objects and events. Priests and deacons bless in the Church’s name; parents and lay people may also bless, for example their children, their meals and their homes. See the Catholic house blessing, grace before meals and the St. Blaise blessing of throats. The blessing of animals is often given on October 4, the feast of St. Francis.
What are the Pope’s prayer intentions?
Each month the Pope proposes an intention for the whole Church to pray for, shared through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Catholics also pray “for the intentions of the Holy Father,” for example as one of the conditions for a plenary indulgence, usually with an Our Father and a Hail Mary.
What should I pray before Mass or a church service?
Arrive a few minutes early, kneel, and ask God to open your heart to his word and to the Eucharist. See our prayer before Mass and prayer before Communion.
Are there Catholic prayers in Spanish and other languages?
Yes. See peticiones para la misa and oración de los fieles (Spanish), prière universelle (French), preghiere dei fedeli (Italian), oração dos fiéis (Portuguese) and Fürbitten zur Taufe (German), as well as Catholic prayers in Latin.
More guides
- Do Catholics pray to Mary and the saints?
- Pray without ceasing
- How to start a prayer
- Catholic prayers
- Seven sacraments
- How to go to confession
- Liturgical year
- Lector guide
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1398–1401, 2626–2644.
- Code of Canon Law (1983), canons 230 §3, 844, 910.